ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: One of the main characteristics of Prader Willi syndrome (PWS) is hyperphagia and obesity. This study sought to evaluate behaviours related to hyperphagia in individuals with PWS under a non-pharmacological transdisciplinary approach. METHODS: This observational study included PWS patients under a traditional non-pharmacological nutritional approach immersed within a regular transdisciplinary treatment (RTT) and a control group of PWS individuals without RTT. All individuals were evaluated using the Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials (HQ-CT). RESULTS: Forty-three individuals were evaluated. The mean age at baseline (treatment onset) was 18.4±8.3 years in the RTT group and 19.1±6.9 years in the control group (p=0.74). Hyperphagia-related behaviours were significantly lower among those under RTT (RTT 5.7±3.7 vs control 13.1±7.5, p<0.0001). This was also identified within the three categories: arguing or manipulating to obtain food (2.71±2.1 vs 5.41±3.2, p=0.003), sneaking food (1.33±1.5 vs 3.55±3.3, p=0.007), and anger or tantrums related to food (1.67±1.8 vs 4.09±2.7, p=0.001). After a mean treatment duration of 41.0 months, the RTT group had a reduction in body mass index (baseline 38.7±17.1kg/m2 vs follow-up 29.2±9.2kg/m2; p<0.0001). A significant association between RTT duration and BMI reduction (p=0.037) was identified. CONCLUSION: We observed a positive impact on behaviours related to hyperphagia and a BMI reduction in PWS individuals in a context of a non-pharmacological nutritional approach as part of an RTT.
