Body Mass Index in Children with Newly Diagnosed Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Observations from Two Multicenter North American Inception Cohorts

ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review of children with newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from 2 prospective inception cohorts to examine body mass index (BMI) status at presentation.Study designClinical, demographic, and BMI data were obtained from 783 patients with newly diagnosed IBD. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data for 2748 healthy children were used as a control.ResultsMost children with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis had a BMI in the normative range (5%-84%). Low BMI (<5%) was seen in 22% to 24% of children with Crohn’s disease and 7% to 9% of children with ulcerative colitis. Ten percent of children with Crohn’s disease and 20% to 30% of children with ulcerative colitis had a BMI at diagnosis consistent with overweight or risk for overweight.ConclusionChildren with IBD are affected by current population trends toward overweight. A significant subgroup of children with newly diagnosed IBD has a BMI categorized as overweight or at risk for overweight. Clinicians should be aware of possible IBD diagnosis in the presence increased BMI.