Comorbid conditions continue to be a concerning and complicating factor in relation to the medical management of injured workers, with comorbidities being identified as the number one barrier to recovery among a recent survey of 500 industry stakeholders. The survey also placed comorbidities as the number two concerning claim complexity, beating out factors such as injury type and undetected fraud, waste and abuse.
Obesity is a known comorbid factor that negatively impacts recovery from injury and is associated with increased workers’ comp costs among non-minor injuries. According to NCCI, workers’ comp claims with a comorbid diagnosis have twice the medical costs of similar claims.
Obesity is a complex disease that occurs when an individual has a body mass index (BMI) – a rough estimate of body fat percentage – of 30 or higher. An estimated 42% of Americans are considered obese, putting them at risk for several serious diseases and health conditions.
Health Consequences of Obesity
People who are obese are at increased risk of:
- High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Body pain and difficulty functioning
- Mental illness such as depression, anxiety and other disorders
- Sleep apnea and breathing problems
The wide-ranging health impacts of obesity also lead to significant healthcare spending and employee costs.
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