Study: Researchers Discover Association Between Obesity And Increased Rates Of Lower-Extremity Injuries, Orthopedic Surgery

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- When I talk about the problems associated with obesity I often point to heart disease and diabetes, but a Texas study has found that you can't ignore another area.

Researchers discovered an association between obesity and increased rates of lower-extremity injuries and orthopedic surgery.

In their research, they found that the more obese a patient was, the greater the likelihood of surgery. Obesity was the common denominator.

While 67 percent of patients with the lowest level of obesity required surgery, the rate was more than 93 percent among the most obese patients.

Although it was not originally part of the study, the researchers found that obesity also was associated with longer hospital stays and increased time in the intensive care unit when compared to patients having surgery who were not obese.