Musculoskeletal findings in obese children.
OBJECTIVE
A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore osteoarticular alterations in obese children.


METHODS
Twenty-five boys and 24 girls (mean age: 10.8+/-2.07 years) with a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile were compared with 28 boys and 19 girls (controls, mean age: 10.4+/-2.3 years) with a BMI below the 80th percentile.


RESULTS
A higher frequency of at least one osteoarticular manifestation was observed in obese patients (55%) compared with the control group (23%) (P=0.001). A statistically significant association was also found between obesity and lower back pain, genu valgum, genu recurvatum and tight quadriceps. Fibromyalgia tender points (=11) were present at similar frequency in both groups (obese: 3/38 (9%) vs. control: 1/48 (2%)).


CONCLUSIONS
The present data suggest that obesity has a negative impact on osteoarticular health by promoting biomechanical changes in the lumbar spine and lower extremities.
de Sá Pinto
Ana L
AL
Rheumatology Division, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
de Barros Holanda
Patricia M
PM
Radu
Ari S
AS
Villares
Sandra M F
SM
Lima
Fernanda R
FR
D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology