The Relationship Between BMI and Work-Related Musculoskeletal (MSK) Injury Rates is Modified by Job-Associated Level of MSK Injury Risk

Understanding the confluence of injury and obesity in a Grade 2 obesity and above population

OBJECTIVE

Obesity and injury are major inter-related public health challenges. The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of injury in people with severe obesity.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was employed to capture injury perception and lifestyle habits via questionnaires. Weight (kg) and height (m) were measured by clinicians for patients attending a weight loss group program. Univariate, chi-square, ANOVA and ordinal regression analyses were undertaken.

RESULTS

There were 292 participants (67.1% female), mean age 49.3 years and Body Mass Index 47.2 kg/m² (range 30.7-91.9 kg/m²). Concern about having an injury was found in 83%, and 74.2% thought that weight would increase the likelihood of injury. A greater concern of being injured at baseline was associated with less weight loss at eight weeks (F=3.567; p=0.03). Depression, anxiety and sleepiness score were higher in those who reported greater 'Concern about having an injury'.

CONCLUSIONS

People with obesity fear injury and falling, which limits their willingness to exercise. Anxiety symptoms appear to exacerbate this connection.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

In individuals with obesity, anxiety, sleepiness and depression are associated with a fear of being injured. Addressing fear and reducing anxiety may decrease barriers to participating in physical activity.

The Relation Between Body Mass Index and Musculoskeletal Injury

Background

The nature and extent of the relation between body mass index (BMI) score and the risk of Musculoskeletal (MSK) injury are still unclear, with few studies investigating. So, the purpose of this study was to assess the association between BMI scores and MSK injury and to see if the site of MSK injury is affected by a specific BMI score. In addition, the risk of MSK injuries was compared among different adult age groups.

Methods

The study population included all patients above 18 years old with musculoskeletal injuries between January 2009 and December 2019 at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC). The estimated sample size was 377. The study subjects were distributed according to their BMI into four categories (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese). Also, they were divided according to their age into young adults, middle age, and older adults. Each MSK injury was identified by its location as upper extremity, axial skeleton, or lower extremity. 

Results

Only gender and age were significantly related to the site of injury, with P-values (0.018) and (0.001), respectively. As for the BMI category, its relation with the site of injury was nonsignificant (P-value: 0.092). The younger age group (≤ 35) has a significantly higher chance to be injured in the upper extremities compared with the older adults (≥ 56) (P-value = 0.014). While the axial skeleton (especially the lower back) was the most common site of injury in obese, overweight, and underweight categories, patients with normal BMI have lower extremities as their most common site of injury. 

Conclusion

Although a higher BMI is associated with an increased risk of MSK injury, the difference in the BMI score seems to not effect the site of injury. By contrast, both gender and age group have a significant relationship with the site of MSK injury.

Frequency of musculoskeletal complaints and their associated risk factors among computer workers

BACKGROUND: Computer-related work has become a part of the daily routine of workers of many occupations which leads to pains of multiple parts of the musculoskeletal system. OBJECTIVES: To examine the frequency and severity of musculoskeletal complaints of different regions of the body, and to examine the relationship between work-related risk factors with musculoskeletal complaints. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-six computer workers were selected by non-probability purposive sampling from three clusters of computer sectors. The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Respondents were interviewed and their height and weight were measures. Confidentiality was assured. RESULTS: The most common musculoskeletal complaints were shoulder (45%), neck (43%), and upper-middle back (36%) pain. The complaints were related to the female gender, increase duration of computer and using a computer at home. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal complaints and psychosocial stresses were related to increasing the duration of computer work.

Obesity in the Workplace: Impact, Outcomes, and Recommendations

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a comprehensive literature review to develop recommendations for managing obesity among workers to improve health outcomes and to explore the impact of obesity on health costs to determine whether a case can be made for surgical interventions and insurance coverage.

METHODS

We searched PubMed from 2011 to 2016, and CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Registry of Clinical Trials for interventions addressing obesity in the workplace.

RESULTS

A total of 1419 articles were screened, resulting in 275 articles being included. Several areas were identified that require more research and investigation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the use of both lifestyle modification and bariatric surgery to assist appropriate patients in losing weight.