Obesity And Back Pain

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Obesity has been known to cause and exacerbate health problems that affect the entire body - namely the cardiovascular system when it comes to heart disease and hypertension, and the endocrine system when it comes to diabetes.

Although obesity is not always a cause for health problems, it can aggravate pre-existing health concerns; among these, a bad back. The excess weight carried by an obese person places additional strain on the spine. The spine is built to support a normal amount of body weight, but for the 2/3 of Americans who are either overweight or obese, back pain can arise from carrying extra weight.

This article will define obesity, highlight the reasons why weight loss and maintenance are vital to back health, and describe three back disorders found in obese patients.

Definition of Obesity
Obesity is defined by a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. BMI is a measure of weight-to-height ratio. Extra weight typically means additional strain for all body systems, which is something to take into consideration when obesity is an issue. However, BMI is not a guaranteed method of determining ones ...
... health; for example, muscular athletes with a large frame might have a BMI in the obese category, but they might not develop chronic back problems due to having strong cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems.

Back Disorders in Obese Patients
Degenerative disk disease is the wear and tear of the spinal disks, the cushions between each vertebra that prevent these vertebrae from rubbing together. Although the discs wear down as a natural part of the aging process, improper back care can lead to a premature degeneration of these discs. The wearing down of spinal discs can also lead to disc rupture and herniation, which occurs under excessive strain on the discs.

Spondylolisthesis is the displacement of vertebrae due to slippage. This can cause the vertebrae to press on the nerves in the spinal column, and in severe cases, it can necessitate surgery to repair the condition.

Obesity can also cause the spine to curve in an unnatural manner. Lordosis, for example, is a painful condition in which the lower back is excessively curved inward. This can occur in the overweight and obese due to an attempt to overcompensate on posture. This "swayback" is caused by exaggerated posture due to an imbalance of weight, but fortunately, it can be treated through weight loss. However, rigid lordosis requires medical attention.

How to Combat Obesity and Back Pain
Even reducing body weight by 10% can help to alleviate back pain, and it can prevent or lessen the severity of back disorders. Abdominal fat takes up more space than does muscle, so when a persons body has excess abdominal fat, the body must adapt by shifting weight around in a manner that is not conducive to back health.

Other factors that can cause back pain are the normal aging process, osteoporosis, and poor posture. Obesity can worsen all of these symptoms, so it is important to learn how to lose or maintain weight as well as develop good habits in caring for your back.