Study highlights higher incidence of musculoskeletal issues in young girls with obesity

Recent research indicates a concerning trend among young girls aged 4 to 11 who are overweight or have obesity, showing they are more frequently visiting GPs for musculoskeletal problems compared to their counterparts of a healthy weight.

The study reveals that girls in their first year of school (reception year) with a Body Mass Index (BMI) classified as overweight have a 24% increased likelihood of attending a GP appointment for a musculoskeletal issue at least once. This probability soars to 67% for girls identified as living with obesity. Furthermore, by the time they reach year 6, girls with obesity are 20% more likely to consult a GP for similar problems. Conversely, boys in the same age bracket with a BMI categorised as underweight were found to be 61% less likely to seek such medical advice compared to their peers of a normal weight.

The most frequently reported problems were related to knee and back pain, as outlined in the results published in the “Archives of Disease in Childhood” journal, focusing on a specific London area.

Nicola Firman, the study’s lead author and a health data scientist at Queen Mary University of London, emphasised the scarcity of longitudinal studies examining the link between obesity and musculoskeletal health outcomes during childhood. Despite a systematic review revealing a general lack of substantial evidence, this study aims to bridge that gap by investigating these health outcomes in an ethnically diverse population within the UK, known for its high rates of childhood obesity and social deprivation.

Among the youngest participants, knee pain was reported by 46% of boys and 41.5% of girls, with these figures slightly decreasing among year 6 students to 40.4% for boys and 36% for girls. In terms of back pain, 22% of reception year boys and a higher 32% of girls experienced this issue, which increased to 30% for boys and an alarming 45% for girls by year 6.

Interestingly, the study noted that reception year girls with obesity were significantly more inclined to consult their GP over musculoskeletal issues than their healthy weight female peers, a trend not observed among boys.

Firman also referenced studies from Spain and the USA, noting an observed rise in back pain incidents among girls, not boys, highlighting the global need for more longitudinal research to fully understand the relationship between childhood obesity and musculoskeletal health.

The research sample included primary school children from four ethnically diverse local authorities in north-east London.
Katharine Jenner, Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, responded to these findings with concern, stressing that primary school-aged children should be enjoying their youth actively rather than facing the physical limitations and pains leading to GP consultations. She criticised the government’s lack of action on its obesity strategy, pointing out that the goal to halve childhood obesity by 2030 is becoming increasingly unattainable without significant policy changes and implementations.