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   Obese and overweight workers are more likely to incur high costs   
   related to workers' compensation claims for major injuries,   
   reports a study in the September Journal of Occupational and   
   Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American   
   College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).   
      
   Dr. Edward J. Bernacki of University of Texas at Austin and   
   colleagues analyzed data on about 2,300 injured workers in   
   Louisiana. Workers' compensation costs and outcomes were   
   compared for obese, overweight, or normal-weight workers.   
   Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher   
   and overweight as a BMI between 25 and 30.   
      
   After three years, about 11 percent of claims for major injuries   
   (for example, fractures or complete tendon tears) were still   
   open -- indicating that the worker had not yet returned to work.   
   Obesity and overweight weren't associated with a delayed return   
   to work.   
      
   But for workers with major injuries, high BMI was associated   
   with higher workers' compensation costs. In this group, costs   
   averaged about $470,000 for obese and $270,000 for overweight   
   workers, compared to $180,000 for normal-weight workers.   
      
   After adjustment for other factors -- including high-cost spinal   
   surgeries or injections -- obese or overweight workers with   
   major injuries were about twice as likely to incur costs of   
   $100,000 or higher. Body mass index had no effect on costs for   
   closed claims or for less-severe injuries.   
      
   Previous studies have linked obesity to a higher rate of   
   workplace injuries and longer time off work, but the effects on   
   costs have been unclear. The new results show that overweight   
   and obesity are significant risk factors for high costs for   
   major workers' compensation injuries, although not for less-   
   severe injuries.   
      
   Highlighting the potential cost impact, Dr. Bernacki and   
   colleagues note that more than three-fourths of workers'   
   compensation claimants in their study were overweight or obese.   
   The researchers plan further studies to confirm that the   
   increased costs related to high BMI are related to medical   
   costs, rather than indemnity costs for lost work time.   
      
   Story Source:   
      
   Materials provided by Journal of Occupational and Environmental   
   Medicine. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160928141724.htm   
      
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