Citation

Davidson P, Goulding A, Chalmers D. J. Paediatr. Child Health 2003; 39(9): 657-664.

Affiliation

Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine and Departments of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14629495

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of the biomechanical factors of force of impact, bone strength, fall height and surface stiffness on the risk of forearm fracture in obese children compared to non-obese children. METHODOLOGY: Anthropometric and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry bone density data from 50 boys (25 obese pair-matched with 25 non-obese subjects) aged 4-17 years were entered into a rheological-stochastic simulation model of arm impact. RESULTS: Obese children were shown to be at 1.7 times greater risk of fracture compared to non-obese children. Lower fall heights and softer impact surfaces were found not to reduce the relative risk of fracture between obese and non-obese children. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental modifications are unlikely to lower the risk of arm fracture in obese children to the same levels experienced by non-obese children. The best option available for obese children to reduce fracture risk is to take steps to attain a healthy bodyweight.