Photo Credit: Tatiana Diuvbanova

The following is a summary of “Weight Trajectories among Children with Down Syndrome: A Retrospective Study,” published in the May 2025 issue of Journal of Pediatrics by Killian et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to examine body mass index (BMI) trends over time and assess prevalent comorbidities in a large, nationally representative cohort of youth with Down syndrome (DS).  

They included children aged 2 to 18 years with a diagnosis of DS who had a medical visit recorded in the Cerner Health Facts (HF) database between 2010 and 2017. The study mapped comorbidities using PheCodes (i.e., ≥1 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes combined into specific conditions). A total of 145 PheCodes were analyzed, each occurring in at least 1% of the cohort.  

The results showed that outcome trajectories were examined using generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs). Estimated modified body mass index z-scores indicated a nonlinear weight increase by age, with a rise from 2 to 5 years, stabilization until age 10, and a subsequent increase. The inclusion of comorbidities revealed that certain conditions were linked to slower weight gain, while others were associated with accelerated weight gain.  

Investigators concluded that children with DS showed rapid weight gain in early years and early adolescence, a pattern similar to their peers but with a diminished capacity for recovery due to factors like differing height gain. 

Source: jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(25)00031-9/abstract