Obesity Affecting Posture

I read a very interesting study that was performed by the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management at Southern Cross University in Australia. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=15&sid=49b29fd6-a6d5-4366-9746-9576917459cc%40sessionmgr3
The experiment was focusing on the effect of obesity on posture and the hip joint. Considering the hip joint is involved in numerous constant activities, it’s been said being obese puts great stress on the hips resulting in decreased range of motion as well as a person’s posture. Not only does the hip joint bear a person’s body weight, but the interfering adipose tissue (fat tissue) of an obese person prevents the joint’s range of motion. ROM of the hip is always affected by tight tissues, so this make sense because of all the compacted adipose tissue restricting the hip to move and function properly.
The test consisted of a control group of ten obese women and ten normal weight women doing two different exercises of seated and standing flexion while being monitored to see the difference between joint motions. Although the seated position trials didn’t show much contrast in ROM between the obese and normal weight group, the standing flexion trials were significantly different. The obese group’s posture of the hip joint was extremely flexed proving one’s BMI and posture have a major relationship. Also being that the pelvis is associated with transition components between the back and lower extremities, it plays a role along with the spine in forward flexion in minimizing the space between the pelvis and thoracic cage. Again, considering there is such excess adipose tissue in a person of obese status, the tissue barricades the components of forward flexion which leads to angular displacement and surplus of flexion on the hip resulting in posture change and decreased ROM. Obesity all together puts a large amount of stress on the hip joint and all of its functions, after bearing an overload of body weight, the hip’s are unable to function properly.
Although I found this study interesting, I didn't find it shocking; being obese is in no way healthy for your body at all. There's millions of negative effects being overweight has on one's body, this is just one more to add.