ESPE Abstracts

Background: Injuries occur frequently in the obese young population even if they need to practice physical activity. The greatest part of Italian adolescents plays sports only at school.

Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between overweight and obesity, and the risk of injuries in adolescents during school physical activity.

Method: This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing the electronic emergency room data of Umbria’s hospitals. The patients’ lists were taken from the data base of a family doctor and the pediatric endocrinology ambulatory of Foligno’s hospital. 12–17 years old adolescents who reported injuries related to the physical activity at school. The period considered was between the 1st January 2008 and 31st March 2011. 111 patients met the inclusion criteria. The group with a BMI ≥85th percentile included 51 patients (26 males and 25 females). The average BMI was 28.86 kg/m² (S.D.±4.31), the average age at the first visit was 13 years and 4 months. The group with a BMI <85th percentile included 60 patients. The injury incidence among the overweight/obese was 15.6%, while among the normal weight was 3.3%. The relative risk was 4.705 (1.04–21.17, P<0.05).

Results: Sports played during school hours could be not adequate for overweight/obese adolescents. It’s necessary to elaborate and apply different gym plans to put this group at the same level of the normal weight. The obeses probably avoid practicing sport outside school.