RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Overweight and obese children do not consult their general practitioner more often than normal weight children for musculoskeletal complaints during a 2-year follow-up JF Archives of Disease in Childhood JO Arch Dis Child FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health SP archdischild-2017-313118 DO 10.1136/archdischild-2017-313118 A1 Janneke van Leeuwen A1 Marienke van Middelkoop A1 Winifred D Paulis A1 Herman J Bueving A1 Patrick J E Bindels A1 Bart W Koes YR 2017 UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2017/08/18/archdischild-2017-313118.abstract AB Background Childhood obesity is associated with self-reported musculoskeletal complaints, injuries and fractures. In the current study, we investigated the association between weight status of children and the frequency and type of musculoskeletal consultations at the general practitioner (GP) during a 2-year follow-up.Methods Data from a prospective longitudinal cohort study including children aged 2–18 years presenting in general practices in the Netherlands were used. Height and weight were measured at baseline, at 6-month, 1-year and 2-year follow-ups. Electronic medical files were used to collect information on the frequency and type of consultations at the GP during the 2-year follow-up period. Associations between weight status and frequency and type of GP consultations were calculated.Results Of the 617 included children, 111 (18%) were overweight or obese and 506 (82%) were non-overweight. Overweight children were significantly older (mean age in years (SD): 9.8 (3.6)vs7.8 (4.0), p=0.004). Overweight children consulted the GP in general significantly more frequent during the 2-year follow-up than non-overweight children (mean (SD): 7.3 (5.7)vs6.7 (5.4), OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.18). No significant difference was seen in the number of overweight and non-overweight children consulting their GP for musculoskeletal complaints (OR 1.20 (0.86 to 1.68)). Additionally, no significant difference between overweight and non-overweight children was seen for the number of consultations for further specified musculoskeletal disorders.Conclusion No association was seen between childhood weight status and the frequency and type of musculoskeletal consultations at the GP during a 2-year follow-up.