The Feet of Overweight and Obese Young Children: Are They Flat or Fat?

Mickle, Karen J.; Steele, Julie R.; Munro, Bridget J.

doi:10.1038/oby.2006.227

Cited by 184 publications

(185 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

159

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…However, unlike younger overweight and obese children, 3 the obese children in this study had significantly higher feet relative to the feet of the non-obese children. The obese children's feet were higher at the point where the upper surface of the foot meets the leg (dorsal arch) and also higher at the front of the foot (ball of foot).…”

Section: External Foot Measurescontrasting

confidence: 69%

“…8,9 A recent study confirmed thicker fat padding in the feet of obese, compared to overweight, school-aged children, although as the between-group difference was small, no functional relevance was attributed to this increased fat pad thickness. 10 However, in a study comparing preschool children, 3 no difference in medial fat pad thickness was found between overweight/obese and non-overweight participants. As significant between-group differences were evident in external arch height measures in these two previous studies, the authors postulated that obese children's feet were structurally flatter, rather than fatter, than their leaner counterparts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Studies investigating the effects of obesity during childhood on the development of foot structure have typically used an indirect measure, that of footprints, to suggest that the feet of young obese children are characteristically flatter relative to their leaner counterparts. [1][2][3][4][5] This flatter foot appearance has been assumed to be a function of lowered arches within the feet, which, in turn, may lead to musculoskeletal disorders and pain in the back and lower limbs of obese children and adolescents. 6,7 There is growing debate in the literature, however, as to whether this flatter foot structure does actually constitute lowered arches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Are the feet of obese children fat or flat? Revisiting the debate

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: There is debate as to the effects of obesity on the developing feet of children. We aimed to determine whether the flatter foot structure characteristic of obese primary school-aged children was due to increased medial midfoot plantar fat pad thickness (fat feet) or due to structural lowering of the longitudinal arch (flat feet). Methods and procedures: Participants were 75 obese children (8.3±1.1 years, 26 boys, BMI 25.2±3.6 kg m À2 ) and 75 age-and sex-matched non-obese children (8.3 ± 0.9 years, BMI 15.9 ± 1.4 kg m À2 ). Height, weight and foot dimensions were measured with standard instrumentation. Medial midfoot plantar fat pad thickness and internal arch height were quantified using ultrasonography. Results: Obese children had significantly greater medial midfoot fat pad thickness relative to the leaner children during both non-weight bearing (5.4 and 4.6 mm, respectively; Po0.001) and weight bearing (4.7 and 4.3 mm, respectively; Po0.001). The obese children also displayed a lowered medial longitudinal arch height when compared to their leaner counterparts (23.5 and 24.5 mm, respectively; P ¼ 0.006). Conclusion: Obese children had significantly fatter and flatter feet compared to normal weight children. The functional and clinical relevance of the increased fatness and flatness values for the obese children remains unknown.

show abstract

Section: External Foot Measurescontrasting

confidence: 69%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Are the feet of obese children fat or flat? Revisiting the debate

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Initial treatment options include activity modification, proper shoe and orthoses, exercises and medication (Halabchi et al 2013). In the neonates and toddlers, it is known that a fat pad is present underneath the medial longitudinal arch of the infant foot while the arch develops; although this fat pad is thought to resolve between the ages of 2 and 5 years as the arch of the foot is formed (Mickle et al 2006). Different studies (Cheng et al 1997;Hernandez et al 2007;Morrison et al 2007;Chen et al 2009) on measurements of foot have been conducted in worldwide scenario among the children and adult population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Footprint analysis and prevalence of flatfoot: a study among the children of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India

Bhattacharjee

Goswami

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present study envisages the morphological differences in anthropometric measurements on footprints among the preschool children and analyzes its manifestation in the different weight category. This study also focuses on the diagnosis of flatfoot among the studied population. Data has been collected from 160 participants (80 boys and 80 girls) from Bengali Hindu caste population aged 3 to 6 years. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight and body mass index. Other measurements on foot morphology included foot length, foot breadth diagonal, foot breadth horizontal, ball of the foot length, outside ball of the boot length, heel breadth, and toe lengths T1, T2, T3.T4, T5. Staheli's Plantar Arch Index, Chippaux-Smirak Index and foot angle were calculated. Various statistical tests like t-test, Pearson's correlation and ANOVA were performed. Among all the variables, foot breadth horizontal showed statistically significant difference between boys and girls (p<0.05). All the footprint dimensions showed a significant (p<0.05) positive correlation with height and weight in both the boys and the girls. However, the Staheli's Plantar Arch Index showed a significant (p<0.05) negative correlation with height and weight and Chippaux-Smirak Index showed a significant (p<0.05) negative correlation with height only among both the boys and the girls. Significant differences (ANOVA) were found between the foot morphology of children in three different weight categories (underweight, healthy and overweight) except the foot angle, and both indices. The present study evinces that weight affects the foot structure of the children. The prevalence of flatfoot was found to be 57.5% among the children with no significant difference (p<0.05) between the boys and the girls. The results thus provide a podium for intricate studies in the future. Timely prognosis of flatfoot in children can instigate early rectification of flat-footedness.

show abstract

“…Although feet that are structurally sound can perform daily tasks with ease, deviations from normal foot structure can compromise foot function and, in turn, cause discomfort and/or pain [6]. Extensive research has confirmed that overweight and obesity negatively affect foot structure and function in children, whereby obese children have been found to have flatter feet and generate significantly higher plantar pressures during walking relative to non-overweight children [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. High plantar pressures, which describe the potential damaging effects of increased load on the plantar tissues [14], have been found to correlate with reduced physical activity and more time spent in sedentary behaviour, possibly due to foot pain and discomfort experienced during weight-bearing activities [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obese older adults suffer foot pain and foot-related functional limitation

Mickle

Steele

2015

Gait & Posture

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is evidence to suggest being overweight or obese places adults at greater risk of developing foot complications such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. However, no research has comprehensively examined the effects of overweight or obesity on the feet of individuals older than 60 years of age. Therefore we investigated whether foot pain, foot structure, and/or foot function is affected by obesity in older adults. Three hundred and twelve Australian men and women, aged over 60 years, completed validated questionnaires to establish the presence of foot pain and health related quality of life. Foot structure (anthropometrics and soft tissue thickness) and foot function (ankle dorsiflexion strength and flexibility, toe flexor strength, plantar pressures and spatiotemporal gait parameters) were also measured. Obese participants (BMI >30) were compared to those who were overweight (BMI = 25-30) and not overweight (BMI <25). Obese participants were found to have a significantly higher prevalence of foot pain and scored significantly lower on the SF-36. Obesity was also associated with foot-related functional limitation whereby ankle dorsiflexion strength, hallux and lesser toe strength, stride/step length and walking speed were significantly reduced in obese participants compared to their leaner counterparts. Therefore, disabling foot pain and altered foot structure and foot function are consequences of obesity for older adults, and impact upon their quality of life. Interventions designed to reduce excess fat mass may relieve loading of the foot structures and, in turn, improve foot pain and quality of life for older obese individuals. ABSTRACTThere is evidence to suggest being overweight or obese places adults at greater risk of developing foot complications such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, however, no research has comprehensively examined the effects of overweight or obesity on the feet of individuals older than 60 years of age. Therefore we investigated whether foot pain, foot structure, and/or foot function is affected by obesity in older adults. 312 Australian men and women, aged over 60 years, completed validated questionnaires to establish the presence of foot pain and health related quality of life. Foot structure (anthropometrics and soft tissue thickness) and foot function (ankle dorsiflexion strength and flexibility, toe flexor strength, plantar pressures and spatiotemporal gait parameters) were also measured. Obese participants (BMI >30) were compared to those who were overweight (BMI = 25-30) and not overweight (BMI <25). Obese participants were found to have a significantly higher prevalence of foot pain and scored significantly lower on the SF-36. Obesity was also associated with footrelated functional limitation whereby ankle dorsiflexion strength, hallux and lesser toe strength, stride/step length and walking speed were significantly reduced in obese participants compared to their leaner counterparts. Therefore, disabling foot pain and altered f...

show abstract

The Feet of Overweight and Obese Young Children: Are They Flat or Fat?

Cited by 184 publications

References 13 publications

Are the feet of obese children fat or flat? Revisiting the debate

Are the feet of obese children fat or flat? Revisiting the debate

Footprint analysis and prevalence of flatfoot: a study among the children of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India

Obese older adults suffer foot pain and foot-related functional limitation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About