title: Differences in bone mineral density between normal-weight children and children with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: This study examines the differences in bone mineral density between normal-weight children and children with overweight or obesity.
  
  
  
  A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies (published up to 22 June 2016) on the differences in bone mineral density between normal-weight children and overweight and obese children was performed. Results were pooled when possible and mean differences (MDs) were calculated between normal-weight and overweight and normal-weight and obese children for bone content and density measures at different body sites.
  
  
  
  Twenty-seven studies, with a total of 5,958 children, were included. There was moderate and high quality of evidence that overweight (MD 213 g; 95% confidence interval [CI] 166, 261) and obese children (MD 329 g; 95%CI [229, 430]) have a significantly higher whole body bone mineral content than normal-weight children. Similar results were found for whole body bone mineral density. Sensitivity analysis showed that the association was stronger in girls.
  
  
  
  Overweight and obese children have a significantly higher bone mineral density compared with normal-weight children. Because there was only one study included with a longitudinal design, the long-term impact of childhood overweight and obesity on bone health at adulthood is not clear.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Koes
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Paulis
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Middelkoop
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements
keywords: Bone mineral density; children; obesity; overweight