Abstract
Study aim: Overweight and obesity are common not only among adults but also among the youngest children around the world. There are many negative consequences of excessive body weight affecting physical, psychological, and social health. Overweight and obesity can impair the musculoskeletal system and affect normal gait, especially in children who are developing their gait. The aim of the study was to analyze gait parameters in terms of body fat content and to compare the positioning of feet and knees during walking among children with normal and exceeded body fat content. Material and methods: The study covered 413 children aged 6-10, of both sexes. Body mass composition was analyzed using the bioelectrical impedance method. Based on these results, a study group (excess body fat) and a control group (normal body fat) were selected. Gait analysis was performed using the OptoGait optical system. Results were statistically analyzed using the Statistica program, employing the U Mann Whitney test and Spearman’s Rank correlation tests. Results: Among 232 children, body mass composition disorders were detected – excess body fat content and reduced total water content. The study group showed a body fat percentage of 34.70% (±3.64), while the control group had 19.36% (±3.13). Gait analysis showed that the percentage of body fat influences the gait parameters of the examined children. Conclusions: An increase in the percentage of adipose tissue in the children’s body results in a lower step length, cycle length, and speed. Higher body fat content also resulted in longer flat foot contact time and double support time.
Published Version
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