Many people who have pain are also obese.  A common question in these cases is which came first – the obesity or the pain? Additionally, will solving one issue make the other go away?

The answer is not simple, but both of these subjects are much related.  Obesity is a severe problem in developed countries like the USA.  Obese people stress the body, and develop pain in areas like the back and leg joints.  Having pain in the low back, or joints, and being obese does not mean that losing weight will resolve the problem since permanent injury may already be present.

Problems Associated with Obesity

Obesity is a primary problem affecting a large segment of society.  Treatment is varied – one single strategy will not work for everyone. Obesity can lead to many health problems that cause pain like:

• Diabetes
• Vascular Disease
• Early Osteoarthritis
• Degenerative Arthritis

Treating obesity before these problems occur is important.  Once permanent damage to the body is done, reversing the injury is often impossible and treatment can only be aimed at symptom management.  If you are obese, work with medical professionals to bring your weight under control to prevent permanent side effects.

Obesity & Low Back Pain

Having low back pain and obesity often makes symptoms worse.  Being overweight by 50 pounds is like constantly carrying 5 one-gallon jugs of water with you 24 hours a day without ever having a break. However, low back pain is often related to permanent changes in the lumbar region including the joints, discs, and bones.  Losing weight will not reverse the permanent changes present but may allow easier pain management.

Joint pain, especially degeneration of the knees and hips occurs with obesity.  Increased weight is a common factor that promotes increased wear and tear on the knees and hips.  Once the damage has occurred, the changes are usually permanent.  Weight loss will make the symptoms more manageable, but will often not cure degeneration that has occurred.

Obesity is a major health issue.  If it were easy to solve, then we would not be facing such challenges in society today.  Treating obesity early helps reduce secondary problems such as pain.  But solving obesity will often not solve a pain problem.  Keeping healthy, strong, and mobile will make many things better, and hopefully decrease obesity and pain.