Body Mass Index and Musculoskeletal Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Obesity studies
• Musculoskeletal health

Background:

• Obesity is a global health crisis with widespread negative health impacts.
• Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a common comorbidity in individuals with obesity.
• Understanding this link is crucial for developing effective management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the prevalence of MSK pain in severely obese individuals.
• To explore correlations between MSK pain and patient characteristics.
• To investigate the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and pain levels.

Main Methods:

• Study included 466 patients (342 female, 124 male) from a specialized obesity clinic.
• Data collected on MSK pain prevalence, severity, and affected body sites.
• Statistical analysis used to evaluate correlations between BMI, pain scores, and demographics.

Main Results:

• 90.3% of participants reported MSK pain, with higher prevalence and severity in females.
• Most common pain sites included the knee (63.5%), lumbar region (46.8%), and hip (29%).
• Positive correlation found between BMI and pain scores in females for shoulder, knee, and ankle.

Conclusions:

• MSK pain is highly prevalent and severe in individuals with obesity, impacting quality of life.
• Pain often localized to weight-bearing joints, suggesting mechanical load as a factor.
• Interdisciplinary care is essential for prevention and rehabilitation of MSK disorders in obese patients.