Overweight and Obesity: Its Impact on Foot Type, Flexibility, Foot Strength, Plantar Pressure and Stability in Children from 5 to 10 Years of Age: Descriptive Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Overweight (OW) and childhood obesity (OB) may cause foot problems and affect one’s ability to perform physical activities. The study aimed to analyze the differences in descriptive characteristics, foot type, laxity, foot strength, and baropodometric variables by body mass status and age groups in children and, secondly, to analyze the associations of the BMI with different physical variables by age groups in children. Methods: A descriptive observational study involving 196 children aged 5–10 years was conducted. The variables used were: type of foot, flexibility, foot strength and baropodometric analysis of plantar pressures, and stability by pressure platform. Results: Most of the foot strength variables showed significant differences between the normal weight (NW), OW and OB groups in children aged between 5 and 8. The OW and OB groups showed the highest level of foot strength. In addition, the linear regression analyses showed, in children aged 5 to 8 years, a positive association between BMI and foot strength (the higher the BMI, the greater the strength) and negative association between BMI and stability (lower BMI, greater instability). Conclusions: Children from 5 to 8 years of age with OW and OB show greater levels of foot strength, and OW and OB children from 7 to 8 years are more stable in terms of static stabilometrics. Furthermore, between 5 and 8 years, having OW and OB implies having more strength and static stability.

A Deep Learning Neural Network to Classify Obesity Risk in Portuguese Adolescents Based on Physical Fitness Levels and Body Mass Index Percentiles: Insights for National Health Policies

“…As result, this study verified that the obesity condition reduced the foot joint flexibility in the participants. This evidence states that, possibly, a negative and intercommunicating cycle between obesity and flexibility [71].…”

“…In addition to these evidence, Bataweel and Ibrahimb [74] performed a cross-sectional study with 90 scholar children and adolescents aged 6-11 years old, and they found that LLF was lower in the obese participants. Apparently, obesity also exerts an inverse influence on obesity, which can be seen in the study of Molina-García et al [71], that in a cross-sectional study with 196 children aged 5-10 years. As result, this study verified that the obesity condition reduced the foot joint flexibility in the participants.…”

“…Due to successful sports practice, adolescents can develop all healthrelated physical capacities, i.e., muscle strength/power and cardiorespiratory fitness [70]. On the other hand, flexibility could not always be correlated to obesity [71]. Flexibility can be determined by several factors, such as genetics, sociodemographic, physical activity, and exercise type practiced [68].…”

Impact of Obesity on Foot Kinematics: Greater Arch Compression and Metatarsophalangeal Joint Dorsiflexion despite Similar Joint Coupling Ratios

“…There is a consensus showing higher plantar pressures in different foot regions, most prominently under the metatarsal heads and the midfoot area [6]. This redistribution of pressure is thought to be influenced by factors such as increased body mass [3], foot strength and laxity [7], and foot type, particularly pes planus [8].…”

“…Biomechanics 2024, 4 236 It is worth noting that the analysis of foot function in obese individuals has predominantly been based on kinetic observations. Current kinematic studies have either concentrated on ankle joint kinematics [7,[9][10][11] or frontal plane movement of the foot, such as pronation [9,11]. For example, research by Messier et al [9] indicated that obese individuals, especially females, exhibit pronounced rearfoot motion and a tendency towards a pronated foot posture.…”