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Metabolic cost, mechanical work, and efficiency during normal walking in obese and normal-weight children
Liang Huang1, Peijie Chen2, Jie Zhuang2
1The University of Auckland.
Insights
Childhood obesity significantly increases the energetic cost of walking. Obese children adopt a slower gait strategy to manage the increased metabolic and mechanical work associated with excess body mass.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Pediatric Obesity
- Human Locomotion
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Understanding the biomechanical implications of obesity is crucial for intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how childhood obesity affects the energy expenditure during normal walking.
- To determine if obese children utilize a specific gait pattern to optimize movement.
Main Methods:
- Matched comparison of 16 obese and 16 normal-weight children.
- Analysis of spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, and ground reaction forces during self-selected speed walking.
- Measurement of metabolic cost using a portable gas analyzer and 3D motion analysis.
Main Results:
- Obese children exhibited 72.7% higher mechanical energy expenditure and 65.7% higher net metabolic cost per stride.
- No significant differences in normalized energy expenditure or mechanical efficiency were observed.
- Obese children walked slower with reduced cadence and an increased double-support phase.
Conclusions:
- Excess body mass is a primary determinant of total metabolic and mechanical cost during walking.
- Obese children may employ a compensatory walking strategy to minimize the energy demands of carrying extra weight.
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the influence of childhood obesity on energetic cost during normal walking and to determine if obese children choose a walking strategy optimizing their gait pattern.
Method:
Sixteen obese children with no functional abnormalities were matched by age and gender with 16 normal-weight children. All participants were asked to walk along a nearly circular track 30 m in length at a self-selected speed. Spatiotemporal data, kinematics, and ground reaction force were collected during walking using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Metabolic cost was collected by a portable gas analyzer simultaneously.
Results:
The mechanical energy expenditure (MEE) was 72.7% higher in obese children than in normal-weight children. The net metabolic cost was 65.7% higher in obese children. No difference was found in the metabolic rate (J x kg(-1) x m(-1)), normalized MEE (J x kg(-1) x m(-1)) and mechanical efficiency between the obese and normal-weight groups. The obese children walked with a 0.15 m/s slower walking speed, 10.0% shorter cadence, and 30.9% longer double-support phase compared with normal-weight children. In addition, no differences were found in the mediolateral and vertical body center of mass displacement.
Conclusion:
Body mass played a dominant role in the total metabolic and mechanical cost per stride. Obese children may adopt a walking strategy to avoid an increase in the metabolic cost and the mechanical work required to move their excess body mass.
