Table 2.

Musculoskeletal Problems Reported to Family Physicians in Normal-Weight and Overweight and Obese Children

Area of ComplaintNormal-Weight Childrena% (n)Overweight and Obese Childrenb% (n)OR (95%CI)
Note: Illness episodes during prior 12 months recorded in family physician’s electronic medical record. Reference group (OR 1.0) for each row is normal-weight children.
a Group total = 2,140; age-group 2–11 y, n = 1,374; age-group 12–17 y, n = 766.
b Group total = 319; age-group 2–11 y, n = 234; age-group 12–17 y, n = 85.
c P<.05.
All musculoskeletal
    All ages14.1 (301)16.0 (51)1.16 (0.84–1.61)
    2–11 y9.5 (130)10.3 (24)1.09 (0.69–1.73)
    12–17 y22.3 (171)31.8 (27)1.62 (1.00–2.64)
Neck and back
    All ages2.1 (45)3.1 (10)1.51 (0.75–3.02)
    2–11 y1.1 (15)1.3 (3)1.18 (0.34–4.10)
    12–17 y3.9 (30)8.2 (7)2.20 (0.94–5.18)
Upper extremity
    All ages1.8 (38)2.2 (7)1.24 (0.55–2.80)
    2–11 y1.3 (18)1.3 (3)0.98 (0.29–3.35)
    12–17 y2.6 (20)4.7 (4)1.84 (0.62–5.52)
Lower extremity
    All ages6.1 (130)7.8 (25)1.32 (0.84–2.10)
    2–11 y3.9 (53)4.3 (10)1.11 (0.56–2.22)
    12–17 y10.1 (77)17.6 (15)1.92 (1.05–3.51)c