Weight Management and Back Pain

Patients who are overweight or obese and suffer from back pain may not be aware that their excess weight contributes to their back pain.

It is known that overweight people are often at greater risk for back pain, joint pain, and muscle strain than those who are not obese.

Being overweight places undue stress on the pelvis, back, and spine—triggering the development of chronic back pain – the association has long been a point of contention among researchers.

On the one hand, some believe the cause-and-effect is established: excess weight pushes the pelvis forward and strains the lower back.

According to a Very Well Health article published on January 3, 2020, there appears to be a strong and almost incontestable association between weight and lower back pain. A 2010 review published in the American Journal of Epidemiology assessed data from 95 high-quality studies. It concluded that the risk of lower back pain was directly related to increases in body mass index (BMI).

The figures were largely unsurprising. According to the research, people of average weight were at the lowest risk; overweight people had a moderate chance, while those who were obese had the most severe trouble overall.

The study also found that overweight and obese people were more likely to seek medical care to treat their pain.

Invest in yourself, call us for a free consultation to see how you can improve your overall wellbeing. We need to bridge the gap between what we should be eating and doing and are eating and doing. It’s challenging, we know, we have been there. Let us assist you in getting back the quality of life you deserve. 

Schedule your free consultation now.