Weight gain and work comp: A growing problem in the workers' compensation rehabilitation system.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity has become a major public health concern in the United States, and has ultimately affected occupational health, including Workers' Compensation. Obesity has been determined to contribute to work-related injury. This analysis examined weight change post-injury during the Workers' compensation rehabilitation process, and specifically how it relates to perceived mental health need, perceived dietary habits, food stamp usage, and the amount of time since the work injury.


METHODS
Archival data analysis was conducted examining Workers' Compensation claimants over a four year period.


METHODS
Data was collected from 1,864 valid Workers' Compensation claims and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a backwards elimination multiple regression analysis to examine predictive relationships between the variables of interest.


RESULTS
Approximately 2/3 of the sample reported weight gain post-injury, with the additional 1/3 reporting weight loss or no change. Both perceived benefit from mental health services and perceived healthy dietary habits were significantly predictive of weight gain.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, may be contributory factors to weight gain, and poor perceptions in food quality and caloric estimations may also relate to this problem. Suggestions for future research, including intervention studies, are also included.
Betters
Chad J
CJ
Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, Anderson Center Room C024A, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. bettersch@wssu.edu
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016272:Occupational Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data