title: Is Obesity Associated With Adverse Workers' Compensation Claims Outcomes? A Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is associated with an increased risk for many chronic illnesses and disability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between obesity and delayed return to work and workers' compensation claim costs for both minor and significant injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 1107 workers who filed a workers' compensation claim with the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation in 2011 that were followed up to the end of the first quarter of 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adjusting for sex, age, marital status, and attorney involvement, the odds ratio of an obese versus normal weight claimant returning to work after a severe injury was 3.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.26 to 10.14) and claim expenses $100,000 or more, 3.19 (95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 8.62).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity was associated with increased time lost from work and costs among workers' compensation claimants sustaining severe, but not minor injuries.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Drs Tao and Bernacki), Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Department of Neurology (Dr Lavin), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore; and Strategic Risk and Strategy Management (Mr Yuspeh), Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation, Baton Rouge.
authors.forename: Xuguang Grant
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lavin
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuspeh
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bernacki
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*