ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thursday, October 19, 2017 is World Pediatric Bone & Joint Day, and the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) is urging doctors and parents to recognize the effects of obesity in children, and take action, so they do not lead to lifelong challenges. Back and hip pain, and bowed legs and knock knees in boys and girls can indicate debilitating bone and joint problems later in life.

The percentage of children who are overweight or obese has more than doubled over the past 30 years, from 7 percent in 1980 to 18 percent in 2012. Obesity can affect bones and joints at a young age. If some common conditions, such as back and hip pain, and bowed legs and knock knees, are already apparent, the sooner they are treated the better. In addition, a child who is overweight may not consistently eat foods rich in vitamin D, calcium and other important nutrients which contribute to healthy bones and joints. And, the child's weight may lead him or her not to want to exercise and build bone mass which is critical to maintain and improve their health, resulting in undue stress on the musculoskeletal system that can impair growth and contribute to serious childhood or lifelong conditions.

"The Pediatric Specialty Group of the United States Bone and Joint Initiative are calling on physicians and parents to know and recognize the symptoms of bone and joint problems due to obesity," said Paul Esposito, MD, Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. "An early diagnosis can ensure better and earlier treatment, and a greater potential to prevent lifelong bone and joint pain, deformity and disability."

The USBJI offers four fact sheets on recognizing the musculoskeletal effects of obesity in children: one for parents and patients of girls, one for parents and patients of boys, and separate sheets for primary care providers—one for girls and one for boys.

Among the signs of strain on the musculoskeletal system:

• Back pain.
• Pain in the groin or inside of the thigh and knee, which may signal a significant problem with the growth plate of the hip.
• Bowed legs (where the knees bend outward). Some bowing of the legs is common in children age 2 and younger; however, an ongoing or worsening spread of the knees are not normal.
• Knock knees, or knees bending inward or even touching, may cause early arthritis and knee, shin and foot pain.

If you notice any of these conditions in a child, especially if they worsen over time, please contact your health care provider as soon as possible. After an examination, which may include X-rays or other imaging, a diagnosis and appropriate treatment protocol will be determined.

Share World Pediatric Bone & Joint Day information on social media, along with #WorldPBJDay.

About the United States Bone and Joint Initiative
The United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) is the U.S. National Action Network of the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health, a multi-disciplinary initiative targeting the care of people with musculoskeletal conditions— bone and joint disorders. Its focus is on improving your quality of life as well as advancing the understanding and treatment of those conditions through research, prevention and education. Bones, and the joints that create function and movement, are connected by muscle and ligaments. Their state of health and how they enable you to lead an active and healthy life is what the Initiative aims to improve.

SOURCE U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative

Related Links

https://www.USBJI.org