2003/11/24 by PL Davidson, A Goulding, Ailsa Goulding +2
Medicine · #Automotive and Human Injury Biomechanics #Bone health and osteoporosis research #Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
paper · doi:10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00243.x
openalex publication_date 2003/11/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/26
OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of the biomechanical factors of force of impact, bone strength, fall height and surface stiffness on the risk of forearm fracture in obese children compared to non-obese children. METHODOLOGY: Anthropometric and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry bone density data from 50 boys (25 obese pair-matched with 25 non-obese subjects) aged 4-17 years were entered into a rheological-stochastic simulation model of arm impact. RESULTS: Obese children were shown to be at 1.7 times greater risk of fracture compared to non-obese children. Lower fall heights and softer impact surfaces were found not to reduce the relative risk of fracture between obese and non-obese children. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental modifications are unlikely to lower the risk of arm fracture in obese children to the same levels experienced by non-obese children. The best option available for obese children to reduce fracture risk is to take steps to attain a healthy bodyweight.