Overweight children are more likely to suffer
fractures than normal-weight peers, then find themselves unable
to exercise, a study suggests.
Those who are overweight are also more likely
to suffer muscle and bone pain and other orthopaedic complications,
the US research in Pediatrics found.
Obese and overweight adults are already known
to have an increased risk of arthritis.
But a UK expert said overweight children
should keep exercising.
The researchers from
National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland reviewed
medical charts from 227 overweight and 128 non-overweight
children.
The overweight children were four and a half
times more likely to have experienced some type of skeletal
fracture than those who were a healthy weight.
The overweight children were also four times
more likely to suffer from bone or muscle pain.
The most common type of musculoskeletal pain
- knee pain - was seen in 6.6% of overweight children, compared
to 2.3% of those of normal weight kids.
Overweight children also reported more mobility
problems.
People of above normal weight generally have
denser bones and are therefore have a lower risk of fracture.
'Small minority'
But the team, led by Dr Jack Yanovski, said
this may be offset by the greater force that results when
an overweight child falls or braces themselves against an
outstretched arm.
Writing in Pediatrics, they add: "Significantly
overweight children and adolescents should be encouraged to
engage in alternative modes of physical activity, such as
bicycle riding or swimming, that potentially could alleviate
the severity of lower extremity joint loading and discomfort."
But Dr Ian Campbell, from the organisation
Weight Concern, said: "Obese children are more at risk of
orthopaedic complications such as fractures.
"However that only occurs in a small minority.
"The vast majority of overweight children
need to be exercising more to help them tackle their weight,
as well as eating healthily.
"They should be encouraged to do whatever
activity they want as that is the activity they will stick
to and which they will still be doing in a year's time."
Reference
Source 108
June
7, 2006
