The answer is a resounding yes. It is worth noting that being overweight is a common disorder affecting a majority of the population today worldwide. The stressful lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise and spending a large amount of work time sitting on the chair are all contributing factors.And thus unsurprisingly obesity has become a common cause of lower back pain.

Ever since the pandemic started, the number of cases with the overweight issue has surged as well.

Therefore, if you are obese or overweight you are more likely to suffer from lower back pain and related spine problems. If you live in Chennai and are already facing back issues due to being overweight, it is highly advised that you consult a back pain specialist doctor in Chennai urgently.

Research on Overweight and Back Pain Link

Various studies have established the link between overweight and back pain. According to a review published in the American Journal of Epidemiology (AJE) which assessed high-quality studies, the lower back pain risk is directly related to the body mass index (BMI) increase. Another 2017 study from the University of Tokyo Hospital showed that an individual’s body fat percentage corresponds to the risk associated with back pain and related problems.

With the growing number of individuals working from home, obesity has become a real issue in Chennai and other parts of India. A number of people including men and women, especially those working, are having major back-related issues. If you have any such back-related pain, consult Dr. Vignesh Pushparaj. He is one of the leading and experienced back and neck pain doctors in Chennai.

How Weight Affects Your Spine?

The spine is one of the most important parts which carry the body’s weight and supports its movement. Thus, the back of a fit person has a curve in a neutral position. However, when an individual gains weight, especially in the midsection, it causes the pelvic area to move forward and leads the spine to curve inward too much. Consequently, the individual experiences abnormal pressure on the muscles around the back bearing excessive weight.

Being overweight can cause and aggravate many back-related conditions. These include:

Posture – When the fat in your midsection grows excessively, the centre of gravity of the core shift due to weight. The resultant shift will pull your body in the forward position and may cause staining of the back. Moreover, the shift can lead your body to gain an unnatural posture that can cause back pain.

Herniated Disc – Herniated disc occurs when the inner core of the vertebral disc ruptures. With an increase in weight, the probability of suffering from herniated disc increases substantially. Excess body fat can further aggravate the strain on your intervertebral disc, causing faster deterioration of the disc.

Bulging Disc – A bulging disc is a condition when the vertebral disc is moved out of its normal position and starts affecting the spinal nerves. The overweight issue, already causing strain can further lead to more difficult conditions for obese people related to the bulging disc.

Degenerative Disc Disease – As people age, many changes happen and one of them is the weakening of multiple discs between the vertebrates. This is known as degenerative disc disease. Overweight people often experience DDD.

Osteoporosis – Some studies show that excess body fat can prevent bones from renewing themselves, thus leading to conditions like Osteoporosis. This can lead to fractures as well. However, it is important to note that there are no conclusive studies done on this matter.

Thus, you must consider weight loss for back pain relief. You can follow some tips to lose weight such as working out in a gym, eating healthy, maintaining proper posture, sleeping well and eating frequently in small quantities. If you still are unable to get back pain relief, seek urgent medical attention.

Back and Neck Pain Treatment in Chennai

If you are planning to get back and neck treatment, book an appointment with Dr Vignesh Pushparaj. He is one of the highly qualified, trusted and best orthopaedic spine surgeons in Chennai with a track record of treating countless number of patients successfully. For more details, Contact us at any time.