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Dr. Kim Mulvihill Reporting Heart disease and diabetes are not the only problems facing overweight children. Doctors have now discovered another danger.
Those higher risks of diabetes and heart disease come later in life. But this new finding shows the bones and joints of overweight and obese children may already be suffering.
Researchers reviewed the medical histories of about three hundred children and adolescents. More than half the kids were overweight.
Their findings show broken bones were three times more common among overweight children compared to their ideal weight peers. Similar results were found for how many overweight kids suffered muscle, joint or bone pain. These children also have more bone and hip joint abnormalities.. which can lead to permanent deformities.
It makes sense if a child has too many pounds on his or her frame, when they fall, there's just more weight behind it - - and that can fracture or break bones. It's not just when they fall. Excess pounds can lead to silent fractures in a growth plate and even more serious problems.
We know weight bearing exercise can strengthen bones. But if it hurts to walk, these children are not going to be very active. Hormones may also play a role. Lean muscular young men have the strongest bone... That goes along with testosterone. Testosterone levels can be lower in very overweight boys. Studies in adults have shown that losing even five pounds can do a lot to reduce knee pain. That should help with kids as well. Lose weight, be active.... start a new cycle, and prevent these problems from happening.
