Obesity and Back Pain

Back pain can vary from person to person; it can be just a muscle ache or a shooting or burning sensation.

Obesity and Back Pain

Obesity is a complex disease that is not caused by one single issue. Many things factor into the equation that leads an individual to gain weight to the point of threatening their health, such as the environment they grew up in, underlying medical conditions that prevent them from maintaining a healthy weight, or sedentary lifestyles. Whichever the reason may be, obesity has become a global problem that affects millions of people of varying ages.

Obesity affects everyone around the world with data suggesting that “the number of obese people in the world has tripled since 1975 to roughly 30% of the total population”[1], and this number continues to rise. Just as there are many causes for obesity, there are also many consequences that may arise if a person is battling with extra weight. This disorder is one of the leading causes of death because it dramatically decreases a person’s life expectancy. Obesity puts people at higher risk for several diseases or illnesses, such as: diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, strokes, and high blood pressure. 

This article will focus on how obesity can cause back pain, especially in the lower part; we’ll also explain what these conditions entail, as well as how to treat and alleviate the symptoms that may present themselves.

Patients from all different backgrounds arrive at LIMARP® because they’re looking to improve their quality of life and embark on a healthier path. Our multidisciplinary team, led by Dr. Liza María Pompa González, offers different health services to help you reach your weight goals and beat obesity: from diet and exercise plans, to psychological guidance and surgical intervention. 

Obesity impacts everyone in a different way and the comorbidities that come along with it can vary from person to person, but we still recommend that you talk with your doctor if your back pain is severely affecting your overall health.

A Quick View Into Obesity

Before going into more detail about the link between obesity and back pain, we’d like to offer more information about obesity. This condition is an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that can cause illness and significant risks for your health. Obesity can be calculated by a variety of tests, including simple ones like measuring your body mass index (BMI). Patients with a BMI over 25 are considered overweight and patients with a BMI over 30 are considered obese, a trained physician can help you determine if your weight is at an unhealthy level.

The harsh reality is that obesity is a public health issue that is on the rise worldwide, affecting an increasing number of adults and children every year. Obesity is the result of excess fat stores within the body that cause systemic inflammation, it generally occurs when you consume more calories than you burn through daily physical activity or exercise. Many patients who are overweight or obese also have a genetic predisposition for the disease. A person is more likely to be obese if one of their parents is obese, or if their family has a similar, unhealthy lifestyle.

There are many complications, both mental and physical, that can present themselves when a person has obesity. When it comes to mental and emotional effects, a 2018 study[2] noted that “between 20% and 60% of persons with obesity, and extreme obesity in particular, suffer from a psychiatric illness”. 

There are also physical effects, such as hypertension, high levels of triglycerides, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, risk of stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, many types of cancer, and back pain.

Back Pain: Symptoms and Causes

Back pain can vary from person to person; it can be just a muscle ache or a shooting or burning sensation. The pain that begins in the back can radiate down to the legs, making it more unmanageable and increasing the possibility of a person being unable to move freely. There are many risk factors to back pain[3], such as:

  • Age: Back pain is more common with age, especially after age 30.
  • Lack of exercise: Unused muscles in the back and abdomen can lead to back pain.
  • Diseases: Some types of arthritis and cancer can contribute to back pain.
  • Improper lifting: Using the back instead of the legs can cause pain.
  • Smoking: This may occur because smoking causes coughing, which can lead to herniated disks. Smoking also can decrease blood flow to the spine, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

The Link Between Obesity and Back Pain

We’ve talked about the link between obesity and knee pain in another article available on our website. Now, we’ll go over how obesity can create or worsen back pain, as well as other problems with the musculoskeletal system, which consists of bones, joints, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. 

If a person has obesity and is experiencing back pain, it may be due to the excess weight in the body, which can affect the pelvis, back, and knees. Some medical experts[4] have stated that as a person gains more weight, their pelvis is being pulled forward, straining the lower back. This can lead to symptoms such as pain, soreness, and tightness.

The excess weight in a person’s midsection can also cause the spine to tilt and become uneven, making back muscles overcompensate thus creating more back pain, as well as other problems.

Obesity can also contribute to the worsening of existing musculoskeletal conditions; for example, people with herniated discs with excess weight can exacerbate and accelerate the progression of the injury. 

Obesity not only affects the health of a person with back pain, but also the effectiveness of treatment. People who are obese and undergo surgery to treat a spine condition have worse surgical outcomes and a higher rate of complications[5].

How To Reduce Back Pain

If a person’s back pain is due to them having obesity, the first step is to lower their weight. This can be done through exercise and diet changes, both of which should be approved by a doctor, especially if they have other comorbidities or delicate health. Our team at LIMARP® includes nutrition and fitness experts that help guide our patients through their weight loss journey, ensuring that it’s safe and effective. Physical therapy can be another option to treat back pain to build strength and improve their posture, movement, and flexibility. Combining this therapy with guided exercises can boost their metabolism while burning calories and losing weight, as well as increase flexibility and mobility.

There are also surgical options. If a patient is dealing with obesity, it’s highly likely that their doctor will recommend bariatric surgery if any initial diet and/or exercise plans fail or are insufficient when it comes to seeing results. Each patient’s case is different, so the plans recommended by your doctor and nutritionist may vary from person to person; they might also change according to the changes the body goes through in order to adapt to its new necessities or medical needs.

The surgical options a bariatric doctor may recommend include:

Contact Us to Learn More

If you want to learn more about morbid obesity and back pain, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We can help determine the right treatment for you. Contact us online anytime or give us a call at (619) 373-0229.

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