Joint problems in obese children

Pain in the feet, ankles, knees and hips contributes to both poor physical function and a reduced quality of life in obese children, U.S. researchers found. Dr. Sharon Bout-Tabaku and colleagues at the Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University in Columbus examined the medical charts of 175 obese children: of those, 51 reported lower extremity pain while 124 had no pain. The medical records included data on age, sex, race, puberty stage, lower extremity pain, physical function, psychosocial health and physical fitness. Although poor physical fitness was not related to having pain, children who reported lower extremity pain scored lower on physical function and psychosocial health than those who felt no pain. The study, published online in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, as the severity of obesity increased, there was a progressive decline in physical function, psychosocial health and fitness scores among those who reported lower extremity pain. "Our findings support the importance of investigating lower extremity pain as part of the evaluation and management of obese children," the study authors said in a statement. "Lower extremity pain may play a role in reduced compliance with weight management programs, exercise regimes, or physical activity recommendations for obese children."