In yet another study looking at the effects of obesity on health it has been shown that overweight children have a much greater chance of getting fractures, bone pain and muscle aches as well as many other orthopedic problems.

The researchers examined medical data of 227 overweight as well as 128 normal weight children and they saw that the overweight children had a 4½ times greater chance of experiencing a form of skeletal problem or fracture when compared to the normal weight children and they also had a 4 times greater chance of suffering from muscle and bone pains. The most recurring problem was that of knee pains which was found in 6.6% of overweight children as opposed to 2.3% normal weight children.

Some of the children were also asked directly about musculoskeletal pain and more than 20% of the overweight children stated that at sometime they had experienced knee pain whereas only 16.7% of those normal weight children had the same problem. Overweight children also reported difficult in getting around and in exercising.

The researchers even went as far as to X Ray the lower skeletons of some of the overweight and normal weight children and saw that the 11 percent of the overweight children had abnormal bone alignment whereas only 3% of the normal weight children had any problems in this area.

Interestingly enough overweight people tend to have much more dense bones than normal weight people but this extra density of the bones does not always compensate for the greater pressure and force that the bones have to cope with during daily movements and also when the bones are put under extreme pressure from a fall or a jump.

Children obviously need to be encouaraged to exercise and move around however very often their obesity hinders them in this area especially if they are suffering from bone and muscle discomfort due to their weight. Obese children who don't exercise only get more obese and the problem continues to compound itself. Swimming and bike riding however can really help obese children without putting excess weight on their lower joints and putting their bones under too much pressure.