Obesity Paradox in Amputation Risk Among Nonelderly Diabetic Men

The association between BMI and amputation risk is not currently well known. We used data for a cohort of diabetic patients treated in the US Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in 2003. Men aged 40 kg/m2. The association between obesity and amputation risk in our data shows a pattern consistent with “obesity paradox” observed in many health conditions. More research is needed to better understand pathophysiological mechanisms that may explain the paradoxical association between obesity and lower-extremity amputation (LEA) risk.