As adults, children are also concerned by the worldwide epidemic of obesity. Obesity may be idiopathic or syndromic, i.e. associated with a genetic or rare disorder such as Prader Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, Bardet Biedl syndrome, or ROHHAD syndrome. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nocturnal alveolar hypoventilation are more common in overweight and obese children than in nonobese children.
Prof B Fauroux
Necker University, Paris