Citation

Adams AL, Deramerian K, Porter A, Jacobsen S, Koebnick C. Clin. Med. Res. 2011; 9(3-4): 162-163.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Marshfield Clinic)

DOI

10.3121/cmr.2011.1020.c-c2-02

PMID

22090582

Abstract

Background/Aims Obesity rates for children and adolescents are increasing rapidly. The same age groups are also disproportionately affected by unintentional injury. Though evidence exists for the association between obesity and injury, we sought to estimate the association between degree of overweight/obesity and the occurrence of fractures, sprains, dislocations, and pain in the lower extremities. Methods For this population-based, cross-sectional study, measured weight and height, and diagnosis of lower limb fractures, sprains, dislocations, and pain were extracted from electronic medical records of 914,271 patients aged 2-19 years who were enrolled in an integrated health plan 2007-2009. Weight class (underweight, normal weight, overweight, moderate and extreme obesity) was assigned based on body mass index-for-age. Results Children and adolescents who were extremely obese had an OR of 1.40 (95%-CI 1.35-1.45; p for trend<0.001) for any injury or pain in the lower limbs compared to children and adolescents with normal body weight after adjustments for sex, age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors. Similarly, extremely obese children and adolescents had increased relative odds for: fractures (OR 1.26, 95%-CI 1.20-1.33); sprains/strains (OR 1.47, 95%-CI 1.36-1.59), dislocations (OR 1.41, 95%-CI 1.36-1.47), and pain (OR 1.45, 95%-CI 1.24-1.70). For all injuries except dislocations, the odds ratios increased with increasing degree of overweight/ obesity (p for trend <0.001), with underweight children/adolescents having lower relative odds of all injuries and pain compared to the normal weight group. Conclusions Overweight, obese, and extremely obese children/ adolescents are more likely to experience lower extremity injuries and/or pain than are their underweight and normal weight peers. While the precise mechanism underlying these associations remains unclear, lower extremity injuries can reduce the physical activity in weight groups that need to increase activity levels to reduce or manage their weight.

Language: en