title: Influence of dual-task constraints on whole-body organization during walking in children who are overweight and obese.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the influence of dual-task constraints on movement and force control in children who are overweight and obese.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve children who are overweight and obese (4-12 yrs old) and 12 age-matched children with normal weight participated. The children walked along a path at a self-selected pace under two conditions: walking carrying nothing (baseline condition) and walking while carrying a box (dual-task condition).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overweight/obese group showed less normalized hand vertical motion and shoulder range of motion compared with the control group (all P's < 0.05). However, in comparison with the baseline condition, the overweight/obese group decreased gait velocity and stride length and increased step width, lateral hand movement, lateral spine movement, and medial/lateral ground reaction force during the dual-task condition (all P's < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that children who are overweight and obese modify lateral movements and force organization when faced with dual-task constraints, which may influence their ability to maintain safety when dual tasking is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Queens College, The City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
authors.forename: Ya-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Simone V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Geneva S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Meredith
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*