Role of Physical Fitness and Functional Movement in the Body Posture of Children with Overweight/obesity

Background: Childhood obesity is known to negatively impact body posture with severe consequences for the musculoskeletal system. Physical performance could play a positive role in the body posture conformation of these children, but there is little evidence to date.

Research Question: Is physical performance (i.e., physical fitness and functional movement) associated with a better body posture in children with overweight/obesity (OW/OB)? If so, is physical performance more determinant than their obesity degree in the body posture conformation?

Method: A total of 62 children with OW/OB (10.86 ± 1.25 years, 58 % girls) were included. BMI, physical fitness components (one-repetition-maximum (1RM) arms and leg press, and ALPHA test battery), functional movement quality (Functional Movement Screen™) and body posture (two-dimensional photogrammetry) were evaluated.

Results: Physical fitness components and functional movement were overall associated with a more aligned posture of the head, lumbar and thoracic spines and lower limb. BMI was associated with head protraction, thoracic hyperkyphosis, lumbar hyperlordosis and lower limb valgus. BMI was the best predictor of head and lumbar spine posture, cardiorespiratory fitness of lower limb posture in frontal plane, speed-agility of lower limb posture in the sagittal plane and functional movement of thoracic spine.

Significance: Our findings reveal that physical fitness and functional movement are associated with a better global body posture in children with OW/OB, and that in some musculoskeletal structures are even better predictors than their obesity degree.