Influence of childhood overweight and obesity on foot and lower limb pain in a population of primary school children

Abstract

Introduction: In childhood, juvenile obesity affects the functional characteristics of the lower limb, predisposing children to pain, discomfort and musculoskeletal comorbidities. This cross-sectional descriptive study analyses the relationship between childhood overweight/obesity and foot/lower limb pain in a population of primary school children. Material and methods: The study population consisted of 150 children aged 9–12 years recruited at a primary school in Malaga (Spain). None had pathologic feet. Anthropometric and demographic data were compiled by questionnaire and by personal interview. Among other variables, the foot posture index was calculated and knee alignment was measured. In the statistical analysis, the dependent variables considered were foot and lower limb pain, and the predictor variables were age, sex, body mass index, sports activity, foot posture index and knee alignment. A descriptive analysis of these variables was performed, together with an association analysis (using the c2 test) and a multivariate analysis (using binary logistic regression). Results: In the study sample, 47.3% were girls, 15.3% were overweight and 12.7% obese. The overall prevalence of foot pain was 10.7% and that of lower limb pain, 27.3%. Of the study variables analyzed, the only ones significantly related to both foot pain and lower limb pain were overweight and obesity. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity are the main factors related to pain in the feet and lower limbs in primary school children.