Foot Pressure Characteristics of Chinese Overweight and Obese Children during Gait

There are differences in foot pressure characteristics depending on ethnicity. This is the first study to evaluate dynamic plantar pressures of overweight children, not only obese children in China, which can provide the pressure patterns of Mongoloid population with data references. Totally 438 children, including 228 boys and 209 girls, aged 7-16 years were recruited from China. Data of plantar pressures was collected by Footscan® plate system. All subjects were classified into groups of non-overweight, overweight and obesity based on body mass index (BMI). Overweight children displayed significantly higher peak pressures and impulses in the 4th metatarsal, midfoot and heel relative to non-overweight children (p < 0.017). Elevated impulses and pressure-time integrals of obese children were found at the hallux when compared to non-overweight counterparts (p = 0.017). Pressure rates were higher in obese children on the metatarsals (p < 0.017). Excessive and repetitive overload for children can increase the risk of foot damage. Since significantly higher pressures at the hallux for obese children were found for the first time, we theorize that races and customs may affect the biomechanical function of the hallux or alter the walking habits of obese children rather than the skeletal structural changes responsible for this finding.