Understanding the Relationship between Obesity and Chronic Pain
In the current times, two major and far-reaching public health concerns are obesity and chronic pain conditions. Also, the link between the two is established in medical literature without a doubt. As the prevalence of obesity disorder rises, a profound understanding of this connection could benefit both patients and doctors in a major way.
Recent researches with extensive evidence strongly indicate that obesity disorder is a potential marker of increased functional and psychological complexities associated with chronic pain. The studies substantiate the linkage between obesity and chronic pain of several types including a migraine, lower-back pain, osteoarthritis and even vitamin D deficiency.
These two conditions are recognized as significant comorbidities that negatively affect one another alongside other interacting factors. Obesity disorder causes greater physical disability and psychological discomfort to patients with chronic pain. Obese patients with severe back pain are found to be having functional impairment, comorbid problems and radicular symptoms to a more extent than their non-obese counterparts.
One of the main factors that give rise to aggravated occurrences of chronic pain in patients with obesity and overeating disorders is the increased heaviness on their joints and spine. A greater body mass index is related to arthritis with additional defects in joint space widths and knee cartilage.
Also, research shows that obese people exhibit stepped up propensities to exert remarkably more disk compression pressure while lifting weights as compared to people having normal weight. Researches display solid evidence of links between obesity and degenerative disk disorder.
On top of that, medical studies investigate the role played by vitamin D in obesity and chronic pain. People with obesity disorder have been examined and found to carry lower levels of vitamin D. A lack of vitamin D brings about deficient skeletal mineralization that in turn leads to complications of joint and muscle achiness including knee osteoarthritis.
Furthermore, researchers likewise discern that the relationship between obesity and chronic pain and other health problems is complex and reciprocal. Now and again, it may be the case that having arthritis makes a person man more averse to move around which in turn makes them more prone to put on weight. Contrarily in others, it might be that being obese puts more strains on the joints which in succession give rise to painful joint problems.
Research suggests that obesity disorder not only engenders osteoarthritis but also delays and complicates the recovery process from joint replacement surgery. Besides, obesity and chronic pain in joints may have a correlation with a greater daily intake of analgesics. Obese patients are more likely to consume strong opioids than patients with normal weight.
Recent studies on the clinical implications of obesity disorder emphasize the fact that the potential risk of contracting knee osteoarthritis can be significantly reduced by almost 50% if a person undergoes a weight loss by as low as 5kg. Various other studies also point out a direct linkage between weight loss and consequent reduction in chronic pain and stress in joints and even migraine