The association between musculoskeletal disorders and obesity

Aust Health Rev. 2002;25(6):207-14. doi: 10.1071/ah020207.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the association between musculoskeletal disorders and the level of obesity (as defined by the body mass index) for a sample of the Australian population aged 20-64. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between musculoskeletal disorders and obesity, controlling for a range of socio-demographic characteristics. Individual-level data on obesity, musculoskeletal disorders, and various socio-demographic characteristics were extracted from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 1995 National Health Survey (NHS). Individuals with musculoskeletal disorders were identified using ICD-9 codes 710-739 from a sample of 28,376 individuals from the non-institutionalised population. Estimates from the logistic regression equation indicate that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the probability of having a musculoskeletal disorder and the level of obesity. Socio-demographic variables such as age, sex, origin, income level, employment status and geographic location also had a statistically significant relationship. This information can be used by public health practitioners and educators to identify those at risk and to design health strategies that target at-risk patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • International Classification of Diseases
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / complications*
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Probability
  • Risk Assessment