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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

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Differences in bone mineral density between normal-weight children and children with overweight and obesity: a

J van Leeuwen1, B W Koes1, W D Paulis1

  • 1Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|March 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Overweight and obese children exhibit higher bone mineral density than normal-weight children. However, the long-term effects on adult bone health remain unclear due to limited longitudinal data.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Bone Metabolism
  • Public Health Nutrition

Background:

  • Childhood overweight and obesity are growing public health concerns.
  • Understanding the impact of excess weight on bone development is crucial for long-term health.
  • Existing research presents varied findings on bone mineral density in relation to weight status in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze observational studies comparing bone mineral density (BMD) in normal-weight versus overweight/obese children.
  • To quantify differences in bone mineral content and density across various body sites.
  • To assess the influence of sex on the relationship between weight status and BMD.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies published up to June 2016.
  • Inclusion of 27 studies comprising 5,958 children.
  • Calculation of mean differences (MDs) for bone mineral content and density, with sensitivity analysis for sex differences.

Main Results:

  • Overweight children showed a significantly higher whole-body bone mineral content (MD 213 g; 95% CI [166, 261]).
  • Obese children demonstrated an even greater increase in whole-body bone mineral content (MD 329 g; 95% CI [229, 430]).
  • Similar significant increases were observed for whole-body bone mineral density, with a stronger association noted in girls.

Conclusions:

  • Overweight and obese children possess significantly higher bone mineral density compared to their normal-weight peers.
  • The current evidence base, with only one longitudinal study, is insufficient to determine the long-term impact of childhood adiposity on adult bone health.
  • Further longitudinal research is warranted to elucidate the lasting effects of childhood overweight and obesity on skeletal maturity and adult bone status.
Abstract

Keywords:
Bone mineral densitychildrenobesityoverweight

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