Our obese and non-obese children have different walking biomechanics according to co-author CSU's Browning

Our Colorado State University Extension program has added a webpage encouraging small steps toward improved health with Ten Tips to Keep Your Family Healthy.

The author(s) encourages family activities through the course of a week, such as formal dance lessons, squeezing in activity between minutes of free-time, and walking together.

I must say that these are only ideas about what to do. Something that I hope you will take into consideration is research co-authored by our Raymond C. Browning in the Department of Health and exercise Science.

Browning and colleagues looked at the differences between walking in our obese children and our non-obese children. Walking is not quite the same for both groups.

One point Browning brings up is research that points out that our obese children do not flex their knees and hips as much as out non-obese children when walking.

This appears to put more stress on their lower body joints.

This can be painful for our kids.

In addition, Browning and colleagues report that energy expenditure is likely optimal for fat reduction at lower intensities (~40%) in our obese children than compared to our non-obese children.

This is due to the fact that there is more energy use for our obese children than for our non-obese children at the same walking intensities. This has been found to be independent of body mass.

What this research means to me is that if you do family activities together as encouraged by our extension program, do not expect that everyone can keep up at similar levels or that everyone should keep up at similar levels.

Also, please notice if an activity hurts. The activity may need to be modified.

On a blog related note: For those of you who noticed that I did not update the research blog early today, I forgot that it was Friday. I am sorry. Thank you for your patience.