Foot structure in overweight and obese children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric orthopedics
• Biomechanical analysis of foot structure
• Childhood obesity and its health implications

Background:

• The longitudinal medial arch (MLA) is typically established in children over 9 years old.
• Understanding the relationship between body mass and foot structure is crucial for pediatric health.
• Previous research suggests a link between obesity and altered foot biomechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between overweight/obesity and foot structure in children over 9 years old.
• To analyze how body mass index (BMI) correlates with longitudinal medial arch (MLA) parameters.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 245 children (aged 13.22±1.8 years) from four schools in Zaragoza, Spain.
• Calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI) to categorize children into normal-weight, overweight, and obese groups.
• Analysis of footprints to determine foot angle (FA) and Chippaux-Smirak index (CSI) as measures of MLA.

Main Results:

• Normal-weight children exhibited a normal MLA, while overweight and obese children showed intermediary and low MLA, respectively.
• A significant decrease in FA (p<0.01) and increase in CSI (p<0.01) were observed with increasing BMI, indicating a lower MLA.
• A significant correlation (p<0.0001) was found between BMI z-score and footprint parameters.

Conclusions:

• Increased body mass in children aged 9-16.5 years is associated with a lower longitudinal medial arch (MLA).
• Obese children in this age group present with a lower MLA compared to younger children, likely due to sustained excessive weight.
• A lower MLA may lead to health problems, necessitating foot structure assessment and potential treatment in children with elevated BMI.