Obesity Increases Risk of Injury on the Job

According to researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, having a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight or obese range increases the risk of traumatic workplace injury.  BMI is a measure of body fat based on an adult’s height and weight.  It is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, 18.5–24.9 is normal; 25–29.9 is overweight and over 30 is obese.

The researchers used medical and injury data on hourly workers employed in eight plants of the same manufacturer to determine whether increased BMI was a risk factor for workplace injury.  The plants were scattered across the United States.  Employees were grouped into five categories: underweight, normal, overweight, obesity levels I and II and obesity level III.

Of the 7,690 workers included in the study, 29 percent were injured at least once between January 2, 2002, and December 31, 2004.  Approximately 85 percent of the injured workers were classified as overweight or obese.  More than 28 percent of injuries occurred among employees classified as overweight, 30 percent in the obese I and II category and almost 34 percent in the obese III category.  The severely obese group, who had a BMI of greater than 40 also had the most injuries to the hand/wrist/finger (22 percent) when compared to the same injuries in the other weight categories.  Almost 10 percent of all injuries in the obese III group were to the leg/knee, compared to 7 percent of workers classified as overweight, which was the next highest injury rate.

“We know that obesity prevention policies and programs in the workplace are important simply because of likely improvements in employee health,” said Keshia M. Pollack, PhD, MPH, lead author of the study.  “What we do not know is if obesity prevention in the workplace will also have the added benefit of improving injury rates and reducing lost work time.  Evaluations of worksite health promotion and obesity prevention efforts should measure changes not only in employee health, but also traumatic injury.”  Employer-sponsored weight loss and maintenance programs should be considered as part of a well-rounded workplace safety plan.

For more information regarding Injury Risks on the Job, HR-OneSource can help.  Please contact David L. Hansen, SPHR, CCP, hansend@hr-onesource.com at (515) 221-1718.