Obesity, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance raise bone-fracture risk

Obesity and type 2 diabetes is associated with poorer bone health and increases the risk of bone fractures, according to new findings from the University of Missouri. The findings come from studies conducted on groups of rat. One group of rats was allowed to overeat and be active, the other group was also allowed to overeat but was sedentary, and the third group was the control, which ate normally but was sedentary.

Analysis revealed that the mice that overate but were allowed to be active had stronger bones and were less prone to insulin resistance. The group of mice that overate and were sedentary had poorer bone health. Lead author, Pam Hinton, Ph.D., explained, “As the rats continued to grow, all groups increased their bone mass, but the rats that were obese and sedentary didn’t accumulate as much bone mass relative to their body weight. So, decreased bone formation, loss of bone mass and decreased bone strength all were present in the obese, diabetic, sedentary rats. However, the rats that exercised did not lose bone strength. In fact, the rats that ran on the wheels had stronger bones than the normal-weight controls.”

The findings reveal the important role exercise plays, not only in reducing obesity and insulin resistance, but in building bone strength as well. To read more about the study, click HERE.

Obesity and fracture risk

Previous research has shown a prevalence between obesity and rates of osteoporosis. Obese women were previously found to be protected against osteoporosis and bone fractures but newer findings suggest the opposite. In fact, numerous studies have shown that obesity is a risk factor for poor bone health.

Excessive fat, especially abdominal fat, has been shown to produce inflammatory cytokines, which can stimulate bone resorption and thus reduce bone strength. Additional studies have shown that the relationship between bone fractures and obesity is dependent on other factors, such as ethnicity, gender and fat distribution.

The increase in bone fractures due to obesity has important health implications, so strategies need to be put forth to reduce the risk of fractures among obese individuals.