Obesity and Disability

Filed in archive Weight on April 27, 2007

Obesity can lead to a plethora of health problems - diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and more. Being overweight can also interfere with your lifestyle, both social and career.

According to Medical New Today:
O

bese individuals appear more likely to file workers' compensation claims for injuries on the job, according to a report in the April 23 issue of Archives of internal medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. A second report in the same issue suggests that older Americans with a body mass index (BMI) of between 25 and 30 considered to be overweight may have a higher risk of disability but a lower risk of death than those with BMI in the recommended range of 18.5 to 25.

The American Obesity Association states:

When obesity becomes severe, it can inflict bodily pain and affect normal daily activities. A person with severe obesity may find their ability to perform their chosen occupation so compromised that they qualify for disability.

It stands to reason. The excess weight puts an added strain on your body. It's working overtime. It should come as no surprise that illness and disability follow.