According to a recent cross-sectional analysis published in the Journal of Osteoporosis International, obese people show a higher absolute bone mineral density (BMD) which is disproportionate to body weight, and this may partially describe the higher vertebral fracture (VF) prevalence. Obesity is known as a global epidemic. However, the relationship between obesity and osteoporosis is yet not clear. This cross-sectional study focused on to assess the associations of obesity and BMI with BMD and prevalent VF within men and women aged 62 years. A total of 342 males and females from Newcastle Thousand Families Study birth cohort selected and went through DXA assessments of the lumbar spine, femoral neck and lateral spine BMD for vertebral fracture evaluation. 

As compared to women, men showed a higher possibility of prevalent VF. Among women, the probability of prevalent any-grade VF raised as the BMI increased. Obese women found to more prone to at least one grade 1 vertebral deformity and one VF as compared to normal-weight women and obese men as compared to normal-weight men were more prone to grade 2 and/or grade 3 VF. The BMI found to associate negatively to lumbar spine BMD/weight and femoral neck BMD/weight. Obese people showed low BMD when displayed relative to body weight; however, absolute BMD increases in obesity; this may not be equivalent to enhanced body mass and fat mass. As the obesity rates are rising, distant and timely research is required to assess the correlation between BMD/weight and vertebral fracture risk.