title: Musculoskeletal problems in overweight and obese children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The obesity epidemic in children is spreading at alarming rates. Because musculoskeletal problems can influence physical activity, we compared the frequency of musculoskeletal problems in overweight and obese children with that in normal-weight children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional database and face-to-face interview study that included 2,459 children aged 2 to 17 years from Dutch family practices. We collected data on self-reported height and weight (body mass index), self-reported musculoskeletal problems in the 2 weeks before the interview, number of family physician consultations for musculoskeletal problems in 1 year, and age (2 age-groups were analyzed: 2 to 11 years and 12 to 17 years, because of the proxy interview in the youngest age-group). We calculated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for musculoskeletal problems in overweight and obese children, compared with normal-weight children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overweight and obese children in both age-groups (2 to 11 years and 12 to 17 years) reported significantly more musculoskeletal problems (OR = 1.86; 95% CI, 1.18-2.93; and OR = 1.69; 95% CI, 1.08-2.65, respectively) than normal-weight children. The total group of children who were overweight or obese reported more lower extremity problems than did the normal-weight children (OR = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.09-2.41); furthermore, they reported more ankle and foot problems than children who were of normal weight (OR = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.15-3.20). Overweight and obese children aged 12 to 17 years consulted their family physicians more often with lower extremity problems than did the normal-weight children (OR = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.05-3.51).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that overweight and obese children more frequently experience musculoskeletal problems than do normal-weight children.
authors: Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.krul@erasmusmc.nl
authors: Marjolein
authors: M
authors: Krul
authors: Johannes C
authors: JC
authors: van der Wouden
authors: François G
authors: FG
authors: Schellevis
authors: Lisette W A
authors: LW
authors: van Suijlekom-Smit
authors: Bart W
authors: BW
authors: Koes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology