Back Pain a Question of Weight?
Weight reduction is often advised for patients suffering from chronic back pain, especially patients who are overweight or obese. 
However, a concrete relationship between body mass and back pain has yet to be established.
A study involving 152 consecutive patients (71 males, 81 females) attending a hospital-based multidisciplinary spinal pain unit evaluated the association between excess weight and spinal pain, with particular reference paid to potential differences based on gender, pain chronicity or site of pain.
Age, weight, height and site/duration of pain were recorded, and obesity was assessed using the body mass index (BMI).
Results indicated that the average body mass index of the 152 patients was similar to that of the general population. Only a minimal difference was found regarding obese individuals, with 52.6% of patients with chronic spinal pain having a BMI exceeding 22.5, compared with 55.5% of the general population.
These findings suggest that excess weight is not a significant factor in the development of chronic spinal pain, with the possible exception of morbidly obese individuals.
Low Back Pain Treatment MESA AZ
Baker PG, Giles LGF. Is excess weight related to chronic spinal pain? Chiropractic Journal of Australia, June 1999:29(2), pp51-54.
