In today’s culture, obesity is a major problem that is associated with many health problems. Overweight people are at high risk of developing heart diseases, diabetes, fatigue, liver issues, and orthopedic problems like fractures. If we specifically talk about fractures, they may require treatment with orthopedic implants, especially in severe cases. Irrespective of gender and age, obesity is critical, and we must pay special attention to the issue. 

In this post, our focus will be on discussing the relationship between obesity and orthopedic problems. Let us first have a brief look at obesity.

What is Obesity?

We must say that obesity is a disease characterized by an excess amount of body fat. One of the points of concern about obesity is that it increases the risk of other health problems that may include diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. If not managed early, it can be hard to reduce obesity. 

Impact of Obesity on Bone Health

Obesity puts our bodies under stress and this is one of the reasons why orthopedic injuries and other related conditions are on the cards. Let us see how one can define obesity:

Mild obesity

People with 20 to 40% extra weight than the ideal weight are considered mildly obese

Moderate Obesity

This is when the extra body weight is 40-99% extra.

Severe Obesity

When the body weight is almost double or more than the ideal weight, the person is severely obese.

Extra body weight makes bones do much more than they are made to do and over time, they start to become weak. If extra pressure is put in continuously, the risk of fractures and even arthritis increases. Here are some of the orthopedic injuries associated with obesity:

Osteoarthritis

Too much pressure on joints is the most common cause of osteoarthritis and it is a common form of arthritis as well. This is because extra pressure applied to the joints results in the breakdown of cartilage and that leads to the development of osteoarthritis. The spine, knee, and hips are the most affected joints with osteoarthritis. 

Chronic Pain

Another common orthopedic problem associated with high body weight is chronic musculoskeletal pain. The extra fat build-up in the body increases the pressure on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Over time, our musculoskeletal system starts to become weak and that could cause chronic pain in the joints. 

Musculoskeletal Injuries

Extra pressure on joints due to high body weight increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries like tendon tears, dislocations, fractures, strains, and sprains. Not only this, but the chances of successful orthopedic surgery also become low. Slow recovery after an injury is also a major issue seen in the obese.
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