Obesity increases risk of fractures in women

A new study presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Maastricht, The Netherlands, found that women who are obese and overweight, especially those with a high waist circumference, are more likely to fracture than women of normal weig.

Obesity has long been thought to help prevent fractur.

However, recent studies have shown that the relationship between obesity and fracture risk varies by gender, bone site studied, and definition of obesity (body mass index [BMI] vs waist circumferenc.

To learn more, Anne-Frederique Turcotte, MD, Department of Endocrinology and Nephrology, CHU de Quebec Research Center, Quebec City, Canada, and colleagues analyzed data from CARTaGENE, a population-based prospective cohort study of nearly 20,000 individuals aged 40-7

Participants in CARTaGENE were randomly selected between 2009 and 2010, assessed once at recruitment, and tracked through the Medical Administration database until March 201

BMI and waist circumference (WC, a measure of abdominal adiposity) were measured at recruitme.

Identify cracks using previously validated algorith.

There were 415 major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs - fractures of the hip, femur, spine, wrist or humerus), 260 women and 155 m.

There were 353 fractures of the distal lower extremity (the part below the knee) (eg, ankle, foot and lower tibia or tibia fractures), 219 women and 134 m.

There were 203 distal upper extremity (forearm below the elbow) fractures (eg, wrist, forearm, or elbow fractures), 141 females and 62 mal.

(Note that some fracture sites, such as the wrist, are grouped into multiple categori.

Larger waist circumference in women was linearly associated with increased fracture ri.

In women, higher body mass index was associated with greater risk of distal lower extremity fractur.

Women with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 had a 5% lower risk of distal lower extremity fractures than women with a BMI of 25 kg/m

It is unclear why obesity increases the risk of fractures in wom.

Dr Turcotte added: "Waist circumference is more strongly associated with fractures in women than B.

"We also know that people who are obese take longer to stabilize their bodies, such as when they tr.

In men, increases in body mass index and waist circumference were not significantly associated with fractur.

The researchers say more fractures in men are needed to determine if this is a real outcome, or if the pattern in men follows the pattern in wom.

The analysis adjusted for some potential confounders: age, menopausal status, race, marital status, education, income, region of residence, smoking status, alcohol use, physical activity level, calcium and vitamin D supplemental intake, history of fractures, Comorbidities and medications known to affect fracture ri.

The study authors said: "Our findings suggest that the relationship between obesity and fractures is complex and varies by gend.

In women, there is a linear relationship between waist circumference and the incidence of fractures at any site and in the distal lower extremity, Especially the ankle joi.

"Women with a BMI between 27 and 40 kg/m² had similar resul.

For men, however, there was no relationship between obesity and fracture risk, although BMI in the underweight range was associated with some fractur.

associated with higher ri.

”

Dr Turcotte added: "Our study found that obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is associated with a higher risk of fractures in women, which has major public health implicatio.

"

"We know that obese patients are more likely to develop other health problems following a fracture that can lead to slow recovery, increase the risk of postoperative complications and malunion (a fracture that may not heal properly), and generate substantial healthcare cos.

"An aging population and rising obesity rates are likely to lead to higher fracture rates in the coming yea.

"Understanding the mechanisms by which obese women, especially those with abdominal obesity, are more prone to fractures is critical if we are to develop effective prevention strategi.

"