# Association between body mass index and tic disorders in school-age children

## TL;DR

This study finds that higher body mass index in children is linked to more severe tic disorders, along with snacking patterns and cesarean birth.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is identifying BMI, snacking patterns, and cesarean birth as predictors of tic disorder severity in children.

## Key findings

- Higher BMI is positively correlated with more severe tic disorder symptoms in children.
- Snacking patterns and cesarean birth are significant predictors of tic disorder severity.
- Combined prediction using BMI, snacking patterns, and cesarean birth provides the highest predictive value for tic severity.

## Abstract

To explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI ) and the severity of tic disorders (TDs) in children 6–14 years old.

A total of 86 children diagnosed with TDs in a hospital between Jan. 2023 and Sept. 2023 were collected by convenient sampling method, and the general data and TD-specific data were collected and analyzed.

Univariate analysis showed that patients with different Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) grades had statistically significant differences in age, BMI, residence, snacking pattern, weekly physical exercise frequency, weekly physical exercise time, and proportion of cesarean birth. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the YGTSS score grades were related to BMI, snacking pattern, and cesarean birth of the patients. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between BMI grades and the YGTSS score grades, with a higher BMI indicating more severe TDs. Predictive value evaluation showed that BMI, snacking pattern, and cesarean birth had predictive values for TD severity, and the highest value was found in the combined prediction.

BMI, snacking pattern, and cesarean birth are of predictive values for the severity of TDs. In addition, BMI is positively correlated with the severity of TDs, and a higher BMI suggests more severe TDs.