Obesity predictors in people with chronic spinal cord injury: an analysis by injury related variables.

Background: Despite an elevated obesity risk in people with spinal cord injury (SCI), investigation on the effects of age, obesity predictors, and injury related factors is yet to be unknown within the SCI population.

Methods: Obesity predictors were measured in 162 patients.

Results: 27.5% of the participants were overweight and 5.6% of them were obese. Mean BMI was different between patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia (p < 0.01). More than 20% of participants had central obesity, significantly patients with higher age and time since injury.

Conclusions: Significant positive relationship was found between level of injury and BMI. Participants with higher age and time since injury had higher waist circumference.