Children with obesity face higher risk of musculoskeletal issues

A recent study has found a heightened risk of musculoskeletal consultations among children with obesity, particularly girls, across different age groups.

In a recent study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, researchers investigated the incidence of musculoskeletal consultations in children with obesity in a primary care setting.

With earlier global research estimating one in three adults experience a chronic musculoskeletal condition, and a UK study concluding that one in every three children had a musculoskeletal problem – this research aimed to investigate if the incidence of symptoms is increased by obesity.

Based on 63,418 Reception aged children, and over 55,364 Year 6 children who participated in the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), this study focused on identifying musculoskeletal consultations among this group.

Reported musculoskeletal issues included knee and back pain, with the study highlighting obesity rates increased with the child’s age. Key findings indicated that younger girls with obesity were more likely to seek musculoskeletal consultations than their healthy-weight counterparts, a trend not observed in boys.

Supporting previous research this study confirmed the increasing demand for musculoskeletal consultations for overweight girls in Reception and Year 6, with underweight Year 6 boys having a reduced likelihood of consultations.