The myriad health risks for overweight children are well-documented — type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease to name a few. But one threat often overlooked is the harm done to a child’s feet.
   According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, children who carry excess pounds may be doing permanent damage to their feet. An estimated 16 percent of U.S. children ages six to 19 are overweight due to poor diet and lack of exercise.
   Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become overweight or obese adults. A difficult cycle to break, an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle are known risk factors for the three leading causes of death in adults – cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

How the foot is affected
The foot consists of 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. Recently, researchers reported that the increased amount of weight and stress being placed on the foot can cause significant changes in foot structure. Since children’s feet are not fully developed until the age of 14 or 15 for girls, 15 to 17 for boys, their foot bones and the alignment of their foot are easily altered.
   “Being overweight can flatten the foot, causing arch pain, tendonitis, joint pain in the foot and ankle and stress the tissues of the bottom of the foot enough to cause heel pain,” said Dr. David Podeszwa, an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Children’s and assistant professor of Orthopedic Surgery at UT Southwestern. “It only takes an addition 15 to 20 pounds to do the damage. Being significantly overweight can also cause stress fractures or hairline fractures in a child's foot.”
   Dr. Podeszwa notes that foot problems in overweight children can create a vicious cycle. The children need to exercise more to lose the weight, but because of their weight, their feet hurt so they can't exercise.

Foot-friendly tips for overweight children
Parents are encouraged to consider the following tips to help a child who is overweight:

• Call 214-456-LEAN (5326) or follow the link below to learn more about the Dean Foods LEAN Families Program at Children’s.
• Seek medical help with treating foot pain with therapies such as custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics) and physical therapy.
• Encourage healthy eating so your child can reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Find forms of exercise that your child will like that puts no stress, or minimal stress, on the feet or ankles, such as swimming, biking and low-impact aerobics.

Resources
Children’s Medical Center Dallas
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society
Dean Foods LEAN Families Program