SUBJECTS NEEDED: We will test six sets of twins. Two twin sets will have both children who are typically developing. Four twin sets will have one child with cerebral palsy and one child who is typically developing (without a disability).

LOCATION: Nutrition Research Center in Kannapolis, NC (right outside Charlotte, NC). We will take subjects who live within a 100-mile radius of Kannapolis, NC.     

PURPOSE OF STUDY: No standardized methodology exists for measuring physical activity physical activity in children with physical disabilities nor are their daily energy requirements clearly understood.  This study will help determine if and how cerebral palsy affects metabolism and physical activity and guide development of measures and interventions for nutrition and physical activity for all children with physical disabilities.

INVESTIGATOR:

INITIATION DATE: 5/29/12

COMPLETION DATE: 10/31/12

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION: To assess  physical activity, each participant will wear a VitaMove accelerometer system and an Actigraph system consisting of three small transistor units for 24 hours for three days. To assess nutrition, each participant//parent/guardian will complete a 24-hour diet recall. Validity of these measures will be compared to the gold standard metabolic measurement for each participant, i.e. a three-hour chamber test and a DEXA scan at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute.