title: Effects of overweight and obesity on walking characteristics in adolescents.
abstract: Child and adolescent obesity is growing at a staggering rate. Associated potential health risks have been acknowledged in the adult population, and similar concerns have been raised for children and adolescents. However, distinguishing locomotor characteristics related to obesity have yet to be clearly identified for adolescents. The aims of the study were to examine the effects of walking velocity and gender on spatio-temporal characteristics of gait between normal weight (NW) and overweight and obese (OWO) adolescents. In addition, we sought to identify characteristics of gait that are related to body mass index percentile (BMI%). Adolescent students in grades 7-10 (N=111) from a charter school participated in the study. All participants walked at two speeds (preferred, fast) over an instrumented walkway (120 Hz). Spatio-temporal characteristics of gait were extracted from four walkway passes and evaluated. Results identified significant (p<.05) differences in velocity, percent double support, percent swing phase, and stance width between groups. Only stance width was different (p<.05) between genders. Models to predict BMI% from kinematic walking parameters were of moderate strength (averaging 43.5% explained variance) and were generally stronger for females versus males. Percent double support was the primary predictor variable of BMI% across speed and gender. It is suggested that OWO adolescents may be challenged with control of movement of the center of mass during the support phase of walking.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, 4505 South Maryland Parkway, Box 3034, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3034, United States. janet.dufek@unlv.edu
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dufek
authors.forename: Rayland L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: Philana-Lee
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Gouws
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Candela
authors.forename: Antonio P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: LeAnn G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Putney
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*