A new American study demonstrates that bones and muscles of the lower body are more susceptible to injury when a child is obese.
Over a three-year period, researchers analysed weight and injuries in young children who were admitted into the emergency room. Ankle sprains and leg injuries were the most common.
The principal author of the study, Dr. Wendy Pomerantz, explained, "Because obese patients have an increased body mass and force, they are more likely to twist or roll on a lower extremity and cause injury than the non-obese children."
Pomerantz also noted that obesity can increase the healing time for an injury, since additional weight and stress to the body can cause further problems.