ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study examines the differences in bone mineral density between normal-weight children and children with overweight or obesity. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.
Subject(s)
Bone Density , Overweight/physiopathology , Pediatric Obesity/physiopathology , Body Mass Index , Body Weight , Bone and Bones/physiology , Child , Humans , Observational Studies as Topic , Sensitivity and Specificity , Trace Elements/analysisABSTRACT
Physical activity and sports participation are promoted to counteract the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and young adults. Both high body mass index and physical activity level have been associated with an increased risk of sports injuries. The objective is to determine the relationship between sports injuries and overweight in sports participants (4-24 years), taking physical activity into account. Data were obtained from the 2006-2011 "Injuries and Physical Activity in the Netherlands" survey. Analyses were based on a representative sample of 3846 sports participants (4-24 years). Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were applied to investigate the association between sports injury and weight status. Of all the sports participants, 14.7% were overweight. Compared with normal-weight sports participants, the odds of sustaining a sports injury was 0.73 [confidence interval (CI): 0.53-1.00, P = 0.050] for overweight sports participants; the odds for underweight sports participants was 0.80 (CI: 0.56-1.15, P = 0.226). There is some evidence that overweight sports participants (4-24 years) do not have an increased injury risk compared with normal-weight sports participants, even when the level of physical activity is taken into account. Additional research is recommended regarding overweight people who start to participate in a physically active lifestyle.
Subject(s)
Athletic Injuries/etiology , Overweight/complications , Adolescent , Athletic Injuries/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Netherlands/epidemiology , Overweight/epidemiology , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
In order to examine (i) the association between weight status and musculoskeletal complaints (MSC) in children, and (ii) whether overweight and obese children have a higher risk of developing MSC than normal-weight children Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane were searched (all years up to 2 January 2013) for observational studies studying direct associations between body mass index (or weight status) and MSC in children. Forty studies, together studying over one million children, were included. There was moderate quality of evidence that being overweight in childhood is positively associated with musculoskeletal pain (risk ratio [RR] 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.45). In addition, low quality of evidence was found for a positive association between overweight and low back pain (RR 1.42; 95% CI: 1.03-1.97) and between overweight and injuries and fractures (RR 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03-1.14). Although the risk of developing an injury was significantly higher for overweight than for normal-weight adolescents (RR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.42 to 4.10), this evidence was of very low quality. Overweight and obesity are associated with musculoskeletal pain, injuries and fractures as early as childhood. More high-quality prospective cohort studies are needed to study the nature of this relationship.