Back pain Overweight harms intervertebral disc

In overweight, the risk of disc damage is twice as high

30.01.2012

Spinal disc problems and back pain occur twice as often in overweight people as in lean people. This is now the result of a large-scale study by the University of Hong Kong. According to a recent estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.5 billion people worldwide are now seriously overweight. Experts call for more education on back problems and better treatment options for patients.

Risk factor overweight: diabetes, cardiovascular disease and back problems
Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases, including diabetes, heart attack and stroke, but also knee and hip problems. According to the study, it has now been scientifically proven that disc problems also belong to the consequences of obesity (overweight).

In one of the largest studies on back health and weight, doctors under the direction of Dino Samartzis examined 2599 women and men from different social backgrounds. Whether they suffered from back pain or not was just as little considered as the economic background of the subjects. The study participants were on average 42 years old. The scientists first presented the „Body measurement index“ (BMI), which is used as a number to weight the weight in relation to height. In addition, each subject's spine was examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Slightly more men suffered from disc degeneration
The study shows that 73 percent of the subjects suffered from disc degeneration. The proportion of men was slightly higher than that of women. As expected, the back damage increased with age. Dino Samartzis reports: „In addition, our study showed that a high BMI is associated with pronounced disc degeneration.“ He pointed out that, in particular, the end stage of degeneration, when there is so much wear on the intervertebral disc, that the interstices of the vertebrae are severely constricted, affects overweight people. In the end, the scientists came to the conclusion that the risk of such a back problem is twice as high for obese people as for people of normal weight.

Experts call for more education and better therapies
The demand of experts for more education about back diseases and their consequences as well as better treatment options sounds plausible in 1.5 billion obese people according to WHO estimates. But what can everyone do for their back health? First, a balanced diet is a prerequisite for a healthy body. There is also a sufficient amount of movement. According to a recent study from Taiwan, 15 minutes a day would be enough to extend life expectancy by up to three years.

In addition to the back school Tai Chi is considered particularly beneficial for a healthy back. „Tai Chi exercises are predestined to relieve the back. By strengthening the legs and opening the pelvic area and the hip joints, the upper body and thus the back is relieved. Besides the correct alignment of all joints, the Tai Chi player learns to sink. This skill further enhances the relief of the spine. I have some students who started Tai Chi Chuan only after their herniated disc. Again and again, these reports tell of the noticeable relief of the back and the improvement in body awareness, which helps them avoid unfavorable postures“, reports Nils Klug, Tai Chi teacher from Hannover.

In addition, scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, USA, are calling on politics to counteract the worldwide increase in obesity rates. For example, levying additional taxes on unhealthy foods and drinks could be helpful. In addition, the advertising for unhealthy foods should be regulated, the researchers said. (Ag)

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