Study Links Obesity to Poor Bone Health
Obesity contributes to a number of well-known diseases, but it may also contribute to poor bones and poor bone health, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
As part of this latest study, researchers conducted three-dimensional bone scans of 115 women, ages 18 and 19, with either normal or high levels of body fat, and determined that by and large, the bones of high body fat participants were roughly 10% weaker than those whose levels of body fat were normal. Women between 18 and 19 years of age generally have bones which have stopped growing, but which have not yet suffered age-related deterioration, making many of them particularly reliable research candidates.
Scientists advise that previous research into bone health and obesity was often adversely affected by instrumentation -- two-dimensional bone scanners have historically been more readily available than three-dimensional models, but do not take into account bone shape and geometry, which are well known to have a significant bearing on bone strength.
Other recent research has highlighted an overall increase in bone fractures among obese children. Study authors warn that childhood obesity can have very significant, lifetime negative impacts on the skeleton.
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- A study showing that pre-pregnancy obesity increases the risk of birth defects
- A study showing that even after weight-loss surgery, obese patients have higher death rates
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