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Orthopedic complications of overweight in children and adolescents.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Taylor, ED; Theim, KR; Mirch, MC; Ghorbani, S; Tanofsky-Kraff, M; Adler-Wailes, DC; Brady, S; Reynolds, JC; Calis, KA; Yanovski, JA
Published in: Pediatrics
June 2006

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have quantified the prevalence of weight-related orthopedic conditions in otherwise healthy overweight children. The goal of the present investigation was to describe the musculoskeletal consequences of pediatric overweight in a large pediatric cohort of children that included severely overweight children. METHODS: Medical charts from 227 overweight and 128 nonoverweight children and adolescents who were enrolled in pediatric clinical studies at the National Institutes of Health from 1996 to 2004 were reviewed to record pertinent orthopedic medical history and musculoskeletal complaints. Questionnaire data from 183 enrollees (146 overweight) documented difficulties with mobility. In 250, lower extremity alignment was determined by bilateral metaphyseal-diaphyseal and anatomic tibiofemoral angle measurements made from whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans. RESULTS: Compared with nonoverweight children, overweight children reported a greater prevalence of fractures and musculoskeletal discomfort. The most common self-reported joint complaint among those who were questioned directly was knee pain (21.4% overweight vs 16.7% nonoverweight). Overweight children reported greater impairment in mobility than did nonoverweight children (mobility score: 17.0 +/- 6.8 vs 11.6 +/- 2.8). Both metaphyseal-diaphyseal and anatomic tibiofemoral angle measurements showed greater malalignment in overweight compared with nonoverweight children. CONCLUSIONS: Reported fractures, musculoskeletal discomfort, impaired mobility, and lower extremity malalignment are more prevalent in overweight than nonoverweight children and adolescents. Because they affect the likelihood that children will engage in physical activity, orthopedic difficulties may be part of the cycle that perpetuates the accumulation of excess weight in children.

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Published In

Pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1098-4275

Publication Date

June 2006

Volume

117

Issue

6

Start / End Page

2167 / 2174

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pediatrics
  • Overweight
  • Obesity
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Child
  • Adolescent
  • 52 Psychology
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Taylor, E. D., Theim, K. R., Mirch, M. C., Ghorbani, S., Tanofsky-Kraff, M., Adler-Wailes, D. C., … Yanovski, J. A. (2006). Orthopedic complications of overweight in children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 117(6), 2167–2174. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-1832
Taylor, Erica D., Kelly R. Theim, Margaret C. Mirch, Samareh Ghorbani, Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, Diane C. Adler-Wailes, Sheila Brady, James C. Reynolds, Karim A. Calis, and Jack A. Yanovski. “Orthopedic complications of overweight in children and adolescents.Pediatrics 117, no. 6 (June 2006): 2167–74. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-1832.
Taylor ED, Theim KR, Mirch MC, Ghorbani S, Tanofsky-Kraff M, Adler-Wailes DC, et al. Orthopedic complications of overweight in children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2006 Jun;117(6):2167–74.
Taylor, Erica D., et al. “Orthopedic complications of overweight in children and adolescents.Pediatrics, vol. 117, no. 6, June 2006, pp. 2167–74. Pubmed, doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1832.
Taylor ED, Theim KR, Mirch MC, Ghorbani S, Tanofsky-Kraff M, Adler-Wailes DC, Brady S, Reynolds JC, Calis KA, Yanovski JA. Orthopedic complications of overweight in children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2006 Jun;117(6):2167–2174.

Published In

Pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1098-4275

Publication Date

June 2006

Volume

117

Issue

6

Start / End Page

2167 / 2174

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pediatrics
  • Overweight
  • Obesity
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Child
  • Adolescent
  • 52 Psychology