Weight loss and weight gain both increase risk of fracture

Both weight gain and weight loss in older women are associated with increased incidence of fracture, says research published in the British Medical Journal, challenging the view that weight gain protects against fractures.
Experts looked at body weight changes in 120,000 healthy post-menopausal women (aged 50–79 years) and the incidence of fracture over 11 years.
Information such as age, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity levels, calcium and vitamin D intake was recorded. Every year the women were weighed and asked to report fractures of the upper limb (hand, wrist, elbow, upper arm, shoulder), lower limb (foot, knee, upper leg except hip, ankle) and central body (hip, pelvis and spine).
During an average of 11 years of follow-up, weight loss was associated with:
• 65% increase in hip fracture;
• 9% increase in upper limb fracture;
• 30% increase in central body fracture.
And weight gain was associated with:
• 10% increase in upper limb fractures;
• 18% increase in lower limb fractures;
• No difference in central body fractures.
Unintentional weight loss was associated with an increased risk of hip and spine fractures, whereas intentional weight loss was associated with an increased risk of lower limb fractures and a decreased risk of hip fractures.
The researchers say that the findings “have clinical and research implications and challenge the traditional clinical paradigm of weight gain protecting against fractures. Clinicians should be aware that even intentional weight loss is associated with increased rates of lower limb fractures.”

Image credit: Fimb

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