Abstract
BackgroundObesity and overweight are suggested to increase the risk of occupational injury but longitudinal evidence to confirm this is rare. We sought to evaluate obesity and overweight as risk factors for occupational injuries.Methodology/Principal FindingsA total of 69,515 public sector employees (80% women) responded to a survey in 2000–2002, 2004 or 2008. Body mass index (kg/m2) was derived from self-reported height and weight and was linked to records of subsequent occupational injuries obtained from national registers. Different injury types, locations and events or exposures (the manner in which the injury was produced or inflicted) were analyzed by body mass index category adjusting for baseline socio-demographic characteristics, work characteristics, health-risk behaviors, physical and mental health, insomnia symptoms, and sleep duration. During the mean follow-up of 7.8 years (SD = 3.2), 18% of the employees (N = 12,204) recorded at least one occupational injury. Obesity was associated with a higher overall risk of occupational injury; multivariable adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.21 (95% CI 1.14–1.27). A relationship was observed for bone fractures (HR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.10–1.70), dislocations, sprains and strains (HR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.25–1.49), concussions and internal injuries (HR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.11–1.44), injuries to lower extremities (HR = 1.62; 95%: 1.46–1.79) and injuries to whole body or multiple sites (HR = 1.37; 95%: 1.10–1.70). Furthermore, obesity was associated with a higher risk of injuries caused by slipping, tripping, stumbling and falling (HR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.40–1.73), sudden body movement with or without physical stress (HR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.10–1.41) and shock, fright, violence, aggression, threat or unexpected presence (HR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.03–1.72). The magnitude of the associations between overweight and injuries was smaller, but the associations were generally in the same direction as those of obesity.Conclusions/SignificanceObese employees record more occupational injuries than those with recommended healthy weight.
Highlights
Increased prevalence of overweight and obesity is a major public health concern
A systematic review of 12 studies published between 1980 and 2005 concluded that overall the risk of injury was slightly increased for obese employees; there were some inconsistencies between the reviewed studies
About a third (32%) of the participants were overweight and another 12% were categorized as obese
Summary
Increased prevalence of overweight and obesity is a major public health concern. In over half of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries at least 50% of adults are overweight or obese. [1] In Finland 20% of adults are obese; this is higher than the OECD average (17%). [1] Obesity is a known risk factor for a number of diseases, including diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and osteoarthritis. [2] obesity is common in working-age populations, its effect on occupational injuries remain unclear.A systematic review of 12 studies published between 1980 and 2005 concluded that overall the risk of injury was slightly increased for obese employees; there were some inconsistencies between the reviewed studies. [3] In recent cross-sectional studies of representative samples of Canadian [4] and US [5] working populations, obese workers were more likely to report occupational injuries, but no increased risk was observed for overweight workers. [2] obesity is common in working-age populations, its effect on occupational injuries remain unclear. [3] In recent cross-sectional studies of representative samples of Canadian [4] and US [5] working populations, obese workers were more likely to report occupational injuries, but no increased risk was observed for overweight workers. Obesity was associated with occupational injury, with knee and leg injuries, in a large prospective study of manufacturing employees in the US. It has remained unclear whether the risks differ depending on the type, location, and mechanism of occupational injury. Obesity and overweight are suggested to increase the risk of occupational injury but longitudinal evidence to confirm this is rare. We sought to evaluate obesity and overweight as risk factors for occupational injuries
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