A cross-sectional study of medial longitudinal arch development in children with different BMI

IntroductionThe influence of excess weight on the development of children's feet remains a subject of debate. To further elucidate whether this relation occurs, this study compared arch morphology and flexibility in three groups of children: underweight, normal, and overweight.MethodsIn total, 1,532 children (807 boys, 725 girls; age range 7–11 years) participated in the study. The researchers measured the participants’ height and weight, calculated their body mass index, and categorized their weight status as underweight, normal weight, or overweight. A three-dimensional foot model was taken using a three-dimensional plantar scanner under non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing conditions to obtain arch morphometric indices (arch index and arch volume) and arch flexibility index (arch volume index).ResultsAnalysis of the data showed that the arch index was higher in overweight children compared to underweight and normal weight children (p 0.05). All children were divided into flatfoot, normal, and pes cavus groups according to arch index, and the arch volume index was statistically significant (p