Obesity and fragility fractures

Abstract

Despite the dominant belief that obesity confers some protection against osteoporosis, several findings that contrast with this argument have been brought forward in recent years. While obesity is considered to be protective against fractures in some localizations such as hip, it is also regarded as a risk factor for fractures at other sites including humerus and wrist. Interactions between obesity and bone metabolism are multifaceted and complex. Since fracture-related complications are more common and functional improvement following recovery is poor in obese individuals, it is very important to establish the link between obesity and fracture and to predict subsequent fractures. In this article, the relationship between obesity and bone metabolism, the impact of obesity on risk factors related to the development of fractures, assessment of fracture risk in obese persons and the association of fracture site with obesity will be reviewed. © 2018, Logos Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.