The percentage of disability claims filed for joint disorders is rising significantly in Tennessee
Each May, Unum releases the top causes of disability using its data as the world's largest provider of disability insurance. Over the past 10 years, Unum's short-term disability claims for joint disorders increased 60%, and long term disability claims for joint disorders are up 57%.
Many factors can contribute to the increase, but the state's high rate of obesity is largely to blame, said
"
There's a "direct correlation" between a high prevalence of obesity and increases in joint disorders, such as arthritis, and musculoskeletal disorders, Breter said. People staying in the workforce longer than they used to is also fueling the trend, he said, since the prevalence of arthritis rises steeply in older adults.
One in three Tennesseans are considered obese, according to data from the
Obesity is defined as having a body mass index -- a measurement of body fat based on height and weight that's often called BMI -- equal to or greater than 30, and it's classified by the
One study found that the risk for a common form of knee arthritis increased by 36% for every 2 units of BMI, or 5 kilograms of weight gain.
"The sedentary lifestyle leads to decreased muscle strength, decreased flexibility. So it's not just the obesity that can lead to joint pain and disability," Howell said. "It's this vicious cycle. If you don't move, you get stiff and weak, and if you have pain you can't move."
She recommends taking regular breaks from the work day to move around and incorporating either 150 minutes of moderate exercise, such as mowing the lawn, swimming or hiking, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise like running to get the heart rate up each week. In addition, two or three days of resistance work with weights, body resistance or exercise bands can help prevent future disability.
Bariatric surgery could also be an option for people who need to lose more than 100 pounds and have been unsuccessful shedding weight through diet and exercise alone.
Unum spokeswoman
There's a one in four chance of disability for today's worker, according to the
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