A large portion of individuals who suffer from chronic pain are also obese. The question is often asked which comes first, and will solving one issue make the other go away? The answer is obviously not a simple one, but both of these subjects are related.
Obesity is a severe problem in developed countries like the USA. Once obese, people do not move as much, and overloading the body can lead to pain in areas like the back and joints in the legs. 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.
Obesity and Pain
Obesity is a primary problem affecting a large segment of society. Treatment is varied, and one single strategy does not help everyone. Since obesity leads to many health problems that cause pain, like diabetes, vascular disease and early osteoarthritis or 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 professionals to bring your weight under control to prevent permanent side effects.
Having low back pain and obesity often makes symptoms worse. If you are overweight by 50 pounds, this is like constantly carrying 5 one-gallon jugs of water with you 24 hours/day without ever having a break. Every time you do anything, there is that 50 pounds you have to lift and move, and it becomes easy to see why you would hurt. 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, can occur 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 reverse the 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 the secondary problems it causes. Solving obesity will often not solve a pain problem. Keeping healthy, strong, and mobile will make many things better, and hopefully decrease obesity and possibly pain.