DISTRIBUTION OF BMI CATEGORIES IN RELATION TO FOOT STATUS IN EARLY SCOOL-AGE STUDENTS
Keywords:
BMI, foot arch status, flat foot, children, school ageAbstract
This scientific paper represents a continuation and extension of two previously published studies conducted on the same sample of early school-age children, which examined different aspects of foot morphology. Unlike the earlier papers, the present study focuses on the distribution of BMI categories in relation to foot arch status, with particular attention to gender differences.The research was designed as a cross-sectional study and included a total of 1,234 children aged 7–10 years. Body height and body mass were measured to calculate the body mass index (BMI), based on which participants were classified into normal weight, overweight, and obese categories. Foot status was assessed using digital pedography and categorized as normal, flat, or high-arched. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square (χ²) test.The results demonstrated a statistically significant association between BMI categories and foot arch status in both boys and girls. An increase in body mass was associated with a higher prevalence of flat feet and a lower representation of normal and high-arched feet. These findings confirm the role of body mass as an important factor related to foot morphology and emphasize the importance of early screening and preventive interventions in childhood
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