Obese Kids Suffer More Leg, Foot Injuries: Study

Have limb pain evaluated, experts advise

MONDAY, March 22, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- Obese children are at increased risk for leg and foot injuries, a new study finds.

Researchers looked at 23,000 children, ages 3 to 14. The one-sixth of the children who were obese had more leg, foot and ankle injuries than healthy weight children.

The study appears in the April issue of the journal Pediatrics.

"These findings are strongly troubling to those of us in the podiatry community. In addition to obesity causing injury and growth plate inflammation, children with existing foot ailments who have not been evaluated and treated by a medical specialist, such as a podiatrist, have a much greater tendency to avoid exercise altogether," Ronald D. Jensen, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association, said in a news release.

"Inactivity is a major factor in developing obesity. For these reasons, it is important that parents be mindful of the type of footwear they purchase for their children and make sure that any sign of foot problems and pain be evaluated by a podiatrist immediately," he recommended.

More information

The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion explains how to help children stay at a healthy weight.

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