Associations between Obesity and Spinal Diseases: A Medical Expenditure Panel Study Analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Previous studies on body weight and spinal diseases used limited patient populations.
• No population-representative samples have examined the link between obesity and spinal diseases.
• This study utilizes a nationally representative sample from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between body weight status and four spinal diseases.
• To determine if obesity increases the risk of specific spinal conditions using population-representative data.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of the 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Study data.
• Weighted logistic regression models analyzed associations between body weight status (normal/underweight, overweight, obese) and spinal diseases.
• Controlled for demographic, socioeconomic, and health service utilization factors.

Main Results:

• Overweight and obese individuals showed significantly higher odds of developing low back pain and intervertebral disc disorder (IDD).
• Specifically, obesity was associated with increased logged odds for low back pain (0.395) and IDD (0.528).
• No statistically significant associations were found between body weight status and spondylosis or other cervical disorders.

Conclusions:

• Obesity is associated with an increased burden of low back pain and IDD.
• This is the first study to use a national sample to link body weight and spinal diseases.
• Further longitudinal and interventional research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.