Associations between obesity and pediatric foot dimensions

Morrison, Stewart C., McCarthy, H. David and Mahaffey, Ryan (2018) Associations between obesity and pediatric foot dimensions. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 108 (5). pp. 383-389. ISSN 8750-7315

Abstract

Aim:
The aim of this study was to determine if obesity is a determinant of paediatric foot dimensions.

Subjects and Methods:
A retrospective analysis of paediatric foot dimensions for 3713 children aged 3–18 years was undertaken. Foot length and foot width were measured using modified callipers. Logistic regression was used to determine relationships between foot length and foot width and the selected predictor variables (mass SDS, height SDS, and BMI SDS).

Results:
Typical weight (FL: p = ≤ .05, OR .83; FW: p = ≤ .05, OR .56) and underweight (FL: p = ≤ .05, OR .83; FW: p = ≤ .05, OR .56) males had significantly shorter and narrower feet. Overweight (FL: p = .02, OR .88; FW: p = .02, OR .72), typical weight (FL: p = ≤ .05, OR .77; FW: p = ≤ .05, OR .47) and underweight (FL: p = ≤ .05, OR .70; FW: p = ≤ .05, OR .33) females had significantly shorter and narrower feet.

Conclusion:
The findings demonstrated that obesity was a predictor of paediatric foot dimensions. Given the current prevalence of obesity in children and young people, these findings may have population wide implications on foot related matters.

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