Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition that contributes substantially to disability, work absence, and rising healthcare costs. Established risk factors include poor sleep, physical and psychological stress, physical inactivity, older age, and smoking. However, the role of body weight and body mass index (BMI) in LBP remains uncertain. Many earlier clinical studies have been limited by small sample sizes, often fewer than 1,000 participants, or by narrow patient populations, such as young men or individuals attending specialist pain clinics, reducing the generalisability of their findings.
A new study from Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has now shown that people who are overweight or obese face a significantly higher risk of developing low back pain than those with a normal BMI.
Low back pain is one of the most frequent reasons patients seek medical care. While medications, physical therapy, and other treatments can help, addressing risk factors such as smoking or physical deconditioning also plays an important role. Findings suggest that maintaining a healthy weight and BMI may also be beneficial in reducing low back pain.
Using computer-based analysis, the research team reviewed the medical records of more than 110,000 adults aged 18 years and older who attended outpatient visits at an urban teaching hospital over a one-year period. Data collected included age, sex at birth, height, weight, BMI, and whether low back pain was reported during the visit.
The results showed that the prevalence of low back pain rose steadily as weight increased from a healthy BMI of 18 (approximately 90 pounds) up to an obese BMI of 35 (about 240 pounds). Beyond a BMI of 35, the prevalence no longer increased but instead plateaued. Within the BMI range of 18 to 35, each one-unit increase in BMI, roughly equivalent to 10 pounds, was associated with a 7% increase in the likelihood of reporting low back pain.
Although not everyone with a higher BMI experiences back pain, the study clearly demonstrated a greater overall risk. These findings strongly suggest that maintaining a healthy weight and BMI may help reduce the likelihood of developing low back pain.
Source: Pain Medicine
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