Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Workers’ Compensation Claims and Costs: Results From the North Carolina League of Municipalities Database

OBJECTIVE:To determine whether a relationship exists between elevated levels of body mass index (BMI) and workers’ compensation measures. METHODS:This was a retrospective analysis of 3951 workers’ compensation claimants between 1981 and 2009 representing municipal workplaces. A BMI scale composed of seven levels, including two overweight tiers, was used. RESULTS:Higher BMI levels were related to more lost workdays, indemnity costs, and total costs. Medical care costs were virtually the same in overweight and obese claimants and moderately higher than claimants with recommended BMIs. Males were more likely to incur workers’ compensation claims than females across all BMI tiers; yet, obese females incurred twice as many lost workdays and indemnity costs, and nearly 50% higher medical costs and total costs than obese men. CONCLUSIONS:Elevated levels of BMI negatively influence several workers’ compensation outcome measures.