Children with cerebral palsy born before 32 weeks were significantly more likely to experience undernutrition, highlighting the need to link feeding support with rehabilitation care.
A new study suggests that the timing of a child’s birth may matter when doctors assess nutrition and rehabilitation needs in cerebral palsy, or CP, a neurological condition that can affect movement, swallowing, feeding and independence. Researchers in China found that children with CP who were born very prematurely were more likely to have undernutrition than those born at term, highlighting the need to look at gestational age alongside everyday function when planning care.
The study, published in Pediatric Investigation on 11 August 2026, examined 575 children with CP aged one to 17 who were seen for rehabilitation and follow-up between July 2020 and December 2021. The team, led by Kaishou Xu at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, grouped the children by gestational age at birth: before 28 weeks, 28 to 32 weeks, 33 to 36 weeks, or full term. They then compared nutritional status with gross motor ability, eating and drinking skills, and performance in daily activities.
About 40% of the children in the analysis were undernourished, and nearly half had been born prematurely. The researchers found clear links between nutrition and function. Children with poorer motor skills, greater difficulty with eating and drinking, and lower independence in daily tasks were more likely to have worse nutritional status. Those born before 32 weeks faced the greatest risk: children born before 28 weeks had 4.61 times the odds of moderate undernutrition compared with term-born children, while those born at 28 to 32 weeks had 2.71 times the odds.
The findings add to earlier research showing that preterm birth is an important risk factor in CP and that feeding and growth problems can emerge early in life. Prior reports, including an American Academy of Pediatrics summary on growth failure in preterm infants with CP, have stressed the need for early monitoring of feeding and growth. The new study goes further by suggesting that clinicians should not treat nutrition and rehabilitation as separate issues, particularly for children born very preterm.
Xu said the results support a broader approach to care that considers birth history, nutrition and function together. The study authors argued that children with feeding difficulties may need earlier swallowing and feeding interventions, while those with unsafe or inadequate intake may require specialist nutritional support. They also called for follow-up studies to see whether better nutrition leads to improvements in motor skills and day-to-day independence, and whether those effects differ by gestational age.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
