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 They point out that overweight children are at risk for foot pain
and discomfort because they tend to have fatter and flatter feet,
which can lead to increased pressure on the arched portion of the
sole.
That, in turn, could stop kids from participating in physical
activity, they warn in a recent paper.
"Physical activity is certainly crucial to health and well-being,
and halting weight gain is important," said Diane L Riddiford-Harland
of the University of Wollongong, who led a study of the effect of
exercise on overweight kids' feet.
Since these children might be uncomfortable while exercising,
alternate forms of activity are probably necessary, she explained.
"Non-weight bearing physical activity such as swimming or cycling
may be a good option," Riddiford-Harland told Reuters Health in an
email. "There are all types of aquatic movement activities and
cycling-type activities children can participate in, but going to
the pool/beach or on a bike ride with an adult can be enjoyable and
are usually quite affordable."
She and her coauthors had found in a previous study that overweight
kids had higher “plantar pressures” on the middle and fore-foot
areas of the sole while walking than normal-weight kids.
They also linked the higher pressures and a flattening of the arches
to a likelihood the kids would be less physically active.
In the new study, they divided a group of children who were already
participating in a obesity treatment trial into three groups. One
group focused on getting the children to be more physically active.
A second group emphasized activity plus a parent-centered
diet-modification program. The third group did not involve physical
activity, only the dietary modification.
Thirty-four kids participated. They were five to nine years old and
generally healthy, except for being their obesity.
After six months, all the children had grown in height and lost some
weight.
All the children’s feet also grew in length and arch height,
representing normal growth, but none of the other proportions of
their feet had changed.
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The lack of structural differences between the kids who exercised
and those who didn’t was surprising to the researchers. But, they
say, the measurement at six months may have taken place too long
after the 10-week weight-loss trial ended to detect changes caused
by exercise.
"As the musculoskeletal system is still developing in young
children, carrying excessive body mass will likely lead to long term
health complications as they continue to age," Riddiford-Harland
said.
"We still need to systematically determine just what causes the pain
or discomfort that has been reported by these children, how
prevalent it is, what makes it worse and does anything make it
better, because being physically active and remaining physically
active throughout life is imperative for good health," she added.
Podiatrist Alan MacGill, a fellow of the American College of Foot
and Ankle Surgeons who wasn't involved in the study, pointed out
that supportive shoes and orthotics would help children with flat
feet.
"The devices can help control excessive motion in the foot," he
said. "The shoe should be the correct size for the child and not too
flimsy from toe to heel."
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1x35nSc Journal of Science and Medicine in
Sport, online November 13, 2014.
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