NIH Radio
Study Shows Overweight Youth More Vulnerable to Fractures
Brief Description:
Overweight children and teens have a better chance at suffering bone fractures, along with joint and muscle pain, than their non-overweight counterparts, according to a study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Transcript:
Akinso: Overweight children and teens have a better chance at suffering bone fractures, along with joint and muscle pain, than their non-overweight counterparts, according to a study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Researchers also found that overweight kids were more likely to develop problems with their knees. Dr. Jack Yanovski, the study's senior author, says if overweight youth continue down this path, they'll likely experience more complications with joints and fractures as they get older.
Yanovski: I think that bones and joint pains and fractures are all related in overweight kids. Because once children become heavy, the bones appear to become more likely to be deformed and connected in a misaligned fashion. That can lead to pain in the joints and can also lead children to have a little more difficulty moving around; maybe be a little more clumsy and have difficulty running and walking compared to children whose bones are straight. That can then lead them to be more likely to trip and fall from what would be normally very low heights, but because of their extra weight they can then break arms or other parts of their bodies from the extra weight when they hit hard surfaces.
Akinso: According to Dr. Yanovski, the study volunteers provided answers measuring the impact their weight had on their quality of life. He suggested overweight youth should be encouraged to take part in physical activities, such as bicycle riding or swimming. This is Wally Akinso at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 6/23/2006
Reporter: Wally Akinso
Sound Bite: Dr. Jack Yanovski
Topic: Diet, Exercise, Weight Control
Institute(s): NICHD
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