Abstract
Introduction: There is increasing evidence supporting an association between obesity and low back pain (LBP). However, the association between weight change and LBP in the general population is poorly understood. We investigated the relationship between weight change and LBP in a representative sample of the Korean general population from a nationwide survey. Methods: We analyzed data collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2013–2015). Chronic LBP was defined as LBP lasting over 30 days in the last 3 months in the self-report health survey. Weight change was defined as the difference in weight from one year prior, and the amount of change was divided into no change, 3–6 kg, and ≥6 kg. Sampling weights were used to generate representative estimates for the general Korean population. Results: Overall, 6629 (12.0%) and 1848 (11.5%) participants were in the non-LBP and LBP groups, respectively. On multiple regression analysis, weight gain was significantly associated with LBP (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.29, p = 0.011), compared with no weight change. Weight gain of ≥6 kg was particularly closely associated with LBP (adjusted OR 1.42, p = 0.037), compared with no weight change. No association was found between LBP and weight loss. Conclusion: Weight gain is significantly associated with chronic LBP and, in particular, the greater the amount of weight gain, the stronger the association with an increased risk of chronic LBP. Clinicians should carefully monitor weight gain in LBP patients.
Highlights
Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem that causes many inconveniences for those afflicted
Obesity is one of the factors associated with LBP, and, because the lumbar spine is one of the major joints that carry weight, LBP is frequently seen in obese patients [7]
Alcohol consumption and physical inactivity have been reported to be related to LBP [15,16,17], and a nationwide cross-sectional study stated that sleep duration, whether too short or too long, is associated with a higher risk of LBP [18]
Summary
Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem that causes many inconveniences for those afflicted. LBP can lower the quality of life of an individual by causing discomfort in their daily life; it incurs direct healthcare costs and poses an economic burden to society by reducing the available labor force [1,2]. The average annual incidence of LBP varies from 25% to 60%, and lifetime prevalence is reported in as much as 70% to. The etiology of LBP is multifactorial and complex, so it can rarely be identified; most. LBP is referred to as nonspecific [6]. Multiple factors contribute to LBP, such as lifestyle factors (body mass index, smoking, drinking, and physical activity), socioeconomic factors (education level, occupation, and household income), and comorbidities [6].
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