Int J Sports Med. 2006;27:666-71. 

Nemet D, Berger-Shemesh E, Wolach B, Eliakim A

Obesity has become the most common pediatric chronic disease in the modern era. Recent data suggests that unlike obese adults, obese children and adolescents may have decreased bone strength. In a 3 month combined dietary-physical activity intervention study, doctors looked at body composition, fitness and bone strength in  12 obese children. A secong group of 12 obese children (matched for age and gender) was used as a control group who received no treatment for obesity. Bone strength was measured using ultrasound measurements of bone speed of sound (SOS).

There were significant differences in changes of body weight (0.01kg  vs. 2.3kg), BMI percentiles (- 2.8 % vs. - 0.2 %), body fat percent (by skinfolds- 1.5%  vs. 0.7%), and endurance time (170s vs. 50s), in the intervention vs. control subjects respectively. In addition, there was a significant difference in the change of bone SOS between the intervention and control group subjects (21.5m/s  vs. - 87.0m/s) showing much improved bone strength in obese children who had lost weight.

During the critical period of bone development of childhood and adolescence, a combination of dietary and physical activity intervention leads to increased bone strength in obese children. These results highlight the importance of multi-disciplinary programmes for the treatment of childhood obesity and its complications.