Locomotor characteristics of obese children.

The gait patterns of 10 obese and four normal-weight, prepubertal children were used to evaluate characteristics of varying weight groups. Analyses of temporal and distance parameters were conducted on representative gait cycles at slow, normal and fast speeds of walking. Obese subjects showed longer cycle duration (P less than 0.001), lower cadence (P less than 0.001), lower relative velocity (statures/sec) (P less than 0.001) and a longer stance period (P less than 0.001) than normal-weight subjects. Differences were also found in gait symmetry measures, with the obese displaying asymmetry in step length and step factor. In all cases, the right limb was favoured. Obese subjects displayed greatest instability at the slow speed of walking.