Obesity Back Pain

Obesity back pain is caused by a significant amount of extra weight applying added pressure to the spine. Obesity is rarely the exclusive cause of back pain, but it is often a factor that aggravates existing pain conditions.

Obesity Back Pain

Obesity can be measured by a relatively complicated scale called Body Mass Index (BMI). It is easier to consider obesity to be the condition described as 20% greater weight than normal for a person�s height, body structure and age. Obesity is becoming an epidemic in many regions of the world, especially America.

* Weight Loss for Back Pain Treatment

Obesity Back Pain Causes

Many back pain conditions are aggravated by bearing ANY weight on the affected area of the back. An overweight individual places much more stress on the painful area, since it has to support all that extra weight. The actual physical weight can be the cause of the increased pain.

FORCE =MASS x ACCELERATION

More mass = More force applied to the spine.

Obese people often have a majority of their excess body fat around the abdomen. This extra frontal weight places additional stress on the lower back. The weight is not distributed evenly and can cause back muscle pain and strain very similar to that experienced by a pregnant woman. The result of this forward weight is often an increase in the lordotic curve of the lumbar spine.

Obese people usually do not exercise as often, or as rigorous, as thinner individuals. This lack of exercise contributes to poor muscle tone and reduced strength in the back muscles. Muscles that are out of shape do not have the same resistance to pain and stress as strong, healthy muscles.

Obesity Back Pain Conditions

Obesity will aggravate almost ALL types of back pain. It can even be the primary cause of some types of muscular pain, especially in the lower back region. Extra weight is a contributor towards degenerative disc disease. People who are overweight have a higher incidence of herniated discs. Obesity contributes to osteoporosis and is one of the main causes of stress fractures in the vertebrae of older obese individuals. Obese people have a higher incidence of spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal arthritis.

Recommendation for Obesity Back Pain

Being overweight is not healthy. The increased risks for back pain are actually some of the least serious consequences of being obese. Far more serious are the increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, gallstones and many other serious health conditions.

Everyone likes to eat and enjoy their food. Some people just have a difficult time balancing the proper types and amounts of food, exercise and self discipline. Obesity is a killer, literally. It will reduce the quality and quantity of your living days. It is important for yourself, and for those who love you, to try to keep your weight in a healthy range. The added benefit will be the elimination of obesity back pain from your life.

Obesity Back Pain to Lower Back Pain Home page 7/28/06 Revised 5/16/08