Overweight children can develop joint problems.

One of the most disturbing trends is the development of arthritis in children.  While osteoarthritis has traditionally been viewed as a condition of “old age,” it is increasingly creeping into younger age groups.  This is believed to be because of increasing rates of obesity in young people.

In a recent study, 135 overweight children and adolescents with an average age of 12.3 years was studied to understand the effect body weight on joint pain.  Sixty-one percent overweight kids complained of joint pain at least once a month.  Back pain was the most common complaint, followed closely by foot, knee, and hip pain.  The doctors stated that, “musculoskeletal pain was common and, in the knee and hip joints, was positively associated with extra bodyweight.”

[Stovitz, SD, Pardee, PE, Vazquez, G, et al. Musculoskeletal pain in obese children and adolescents. Acta Pædiatrica 2008;97(4):48-93.]

There is also now evidence that overweight kids are in a chronic state of low-grade inflammation.  Recall the discussion on this site of belly fat and inflammation.  It is now clear that the fat cells making up the belly fat in adults secrete a wide range of inflammatory molecules that circulate throughout the body. Some of these chemicals are directly inflammatory, while others trigger new inflammatory molecules to be made.

Now we realize that these same chemicals from belly fat are made in children who are overweight.  The problem with overweight children is that the process begins much earlier in life. So, the exposure to these inflammatory chemicals goes on for a much longer period if the obesity is not controlled.  In other words, children who are overweight are prematurely exposed to inflammatory molecules that give rise to joint injury.  It means that children are at risk to developing joint conditions typically associated with old age.  It is also important to know that these same molecules affect other parts of the body, such as the brain.