Association between flat foot prevalence and nutritional status in schoolchildren

Abstract

Introduction/Objective The aim of this study was to examine the association between flat feet and socio-demographic factors and nutritional status in children aged 7–14 years of the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia.

Methods The research was conducted as a cross-sectional study. The survey instrument was a questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements were done using standardized procedures. To determine the impact of socio-demographic factors and nutritional status as independent variables on the flat feet in schoolchildren as a dependent variable, a multivariate logistic regression model was implemented. A multivariate model was adjusted for age, sex, type of settlement, and material status.

Results This study included 1376 children (685 boys and 691 girls). Significant differences were observed in the frequency of flat feet between normal weight, overweight, and obesity (p = 0.006), where obese children were rated highest in the flat foot category. Overweight children had a 1.76 times higher chance to have flat feet than those with normal weight (OR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.08–2.88), while obese children were 1.88 times more likely to have flat feet than those with normal weight (OR = 1.88; 95% CI 1.14–3.11).

Conclusion The research showed that nutritional status was significantly associated with the presence of flat feet in schoolchildren. The high prevalence of flat feet and obesity in schoolchildren should be accepted as a warning sign, and many public health policies should be undertaken to solve these issues.

Keywords: children; flat feet; BMI; Vojvodina