Obesity may not deter fracture in postmenopausal women

Approximately 25% of postmenopausal women with fragility fractures are obese, according to research presented at the European Congress on Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis.

Obesity has previously been thought to protect against fracture, according to a press release. However, the findings of this study counter this belief.

According to a press release, the research compared the prevalence and location of fractures in obese (having a body mass index equal to or greater than 30) and non-obese menopausal women and examined risk factors for fracture.

A history of fracture was found in 23% of obese women older than 45 years, with 24% non-obese women in that age group demonstrating a history of fracture. Nearly one in four postmenopausal women with fractures, the researchers noted, is obese.

Obese women were “significantly more likely” to suffer fractures of the upper arm, ankle and lower leg than non-obese women, according to the release. Non-obese women were more likely to suffer fractures of the wrist, hip and pelvis. Obese women with prevalent fractures were also more likely to:

be current cortisone users;
report early menopause;
report fair or poor general health;
use their arms to assist in standing from a sitting position; and
report more than two falls in the past year.

The research demonstrated that obese postmenopausal women are almost as likely to sustain a fracture as non-obese women, and that poor mobility and increased risk of falls could be critical factors in these findings. The researchers added in the release that their conclusions could have “significant public health implications” in view of rapidly-rising numbers of obese people in the general population.

Reference:

Compston J, et al. Fractures in obese postmenopausal women: Prevalence, skeletal location and risk factors. Paper OC21. Presented at the European Congress on Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis Int. doi: 10.1007/s00198-011-1554-9

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