title: Functional limitations and occupational issues in obesity: a review.
abstract: Four hundred million adults are obese. Such a pandemic involves people of working age. Excess weight imposes abnormal mechanics on body movements, which could account for the high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in these subjects. This article reviews the physiological and biomechanical causes of the reduced work capacity in obese workers and speculates on the relationships between occupational exposure and obesity. The reduction in work capacity appears to be due to the following factors: reduced spine flexibility, decay in endurance, limited range of movement of the major joints, reduced muscle strength and capacity to hold prolonged fixed postures, impaired respiratory capacity and visual control. Work capacity in morbidly obese workers should always be evaluated to match specific job demands. Due to the relationship between obesity, musculoskeletal disorders, disability and health costs, prevention of obesity and ergonomic interventions on-site are a priority in the work place.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Unit and Research Laboratory in Biomechanics and Rehabilitation, Istituto Auxoxlogico Italiano IRCCS, Verbania-Piancavallo, Italy. p.capodaglio@auxologico.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capodaglio
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castelnuovo
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunani
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vismara
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Edda Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Capodaglio
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation