Obesity raises risk of injury and related woes: Report

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDNov 6 2011

According to Australian government health statistics being obese increases the chance of injury.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare said in its report, “Obesity and Injury in Australia: a Review of the Literature”, that in spite of the findings being mixed, the probability of falls, trips or stumbles rise with obesity. However, the Institute's James Harrison says the increased risk of injury from falls in the obese may be somewhat offset by the better cushioning body fat provides.

There are also indications of a link between obesity and an increase of injuries at work. One study showed that adults with a high body mass index were twice as likely as adults with normal range BMI to have a driving injury.

Another study found that sleep-disorder breathing conditions - such as sleep apnea - among obese people increased the risk of driver involvement in traffic accidents causing an injury. People who are obese are at higher risk of developing sleep apnea.

The report said obesity was associated with impaired postural balance, even in relatively young individuals. Surprisingly, obesity was linked with a reduced risk of hip and wrist fractures in older adults.

“In contrast, obesity has been associated with a greater risk of distal forearm and wrist fractures in children” the report said. “This has been attributed to an increased risk of falling, compounded by decreased bone density in obese children, who are more likely than other children to be sedentary.”

The report said obesity had been linked with increased mortality following traumatic injuries and obese hospital patients were likely to require more medical resources. Obese trauma patients had increased lengths of stays in hospital and in intensive care units. “It is also possibly risky for employees working with obese people, such as nurses who are required to lift patients,” Harrison said.

About one quarter of Australians adults and 7per cent of children have been estimated to be obese, costing Australian society and governments more than $58 billion in 2008.