Have you ever wondered whether there is a connection between pain and overweight? It’s very likely that you had some suspicions, but now thanks to modern science we can confirm this. There is a link between pain and overweight and in many cases, those extra pounds are a direct cause for the pain you feel. Check this article to learn more about this.
Pain can be described as a very unpleasant physical sensation which comes as a result of an injury or illness. On the other hand, being overweight means that you have a weight that goes above the level that is considered normal. So, this condition is not an illness or an injury, but due to the negative impact it has on hour body, we can expect pain. This is the main reason why you should work on creating a weight loss strategy that will help you.
- Find out more about the connection between pain and overweight
- Learn about the negative impact of overweight on our health
- Get information about weight loss and prevention of weight gain
The fact that almost 40% of the population is overweight doesn’t give you the right to ignore this problem. If you are overweight, you will probably feel pain sooner or later. Here’s what science has to say about the connection between pain and overweight.
1. Excessive weight leads to back pain
An overweight person usually has excessive weight on the waistline. As a result of that, the spine is under pressure and tends to move the body forward. The final result is a continuous pain in the back. Over time, the spine will try to adjust, but it will do this in an improper position that will lead to even more problems. Light exercise and improvement of eating habits will help you a lot in situations like this.
- Overweight individuals experience pressure on the spine
- You will feel pain as a result of that
- Your spine can bend and get into an improper position which will lead to more problems
2. Overweight people often complain about knee pain
Numerous scientific studies have shown that even if you have just a few extra pounds, you will probably experience problems with your knees. Whenever you take a walk, the pressure is felt on the joints. This pressure is multiplied in overweight individuals hence the pain. Overweight people are often dealing with torn cartilage, twisted knees, and inflammation.
- Overweight people add more stress to the knees and joints
- If you don’t resolve this problem, you will feel joint pain and risk injuries
- Twisted knees, torn cartilage, and inflammation are more common in overweight people
3. Overweight and migraines
Migraines are recurrent painful headaches that are focused on one side of the head in most cases. This pain can be so strong that some people feel nauseous and have problems with their vision. There are a few studies that have shown that obesity and overweight have an impact on the emergence of migraines. The research has shown that migraines are more frequent in overweight people. Even though it’s not known for sure why something like this is happening, it has definitely something to do with the hormonal changes and stress caused by overweight.
- Several studies have shown that there’s a clear connection between migraines and overweight
- Obesity affects the hormonal status which may lead to migraines
- Even light exercises and small changes in the diet can help
4. Those extra pounds are fueling chronic pain
There are many things that can lead to chronic pain in modern men and women. For instance, their sedentary lifestyle contributes to chronic pain. However, scientists have found a connection between overweight people and the increased chances of developing chronic pain too. One example is the lack of vitamin D which often leads to chronic pain. Obese people tend to have lower level of vitamin D which has a direct impact on pain management.
- Being overweight means supporting chronic pain
- One of the ways in which obesity fuels chronic pain is through lowering the level of vitamin D in the system
- Overweight has been associated with pain created by different health conditions
5. Overweight people are prone to neuropathic pain
There’s no doubt that being overweight has a negative impact on the musculoskeletal health of every individual. That’s why being overweight is a significant risk factor when it comes to chronic lower back and osteoarthritis pain. Neuropathic pain that was not caused by musculoskeletal damage is more intense in overweight individuals. Obesity leads to inflammation which makes the situation even worse.
- Overweight is supporting inflammation and maximizes the effects of neuropathic pain
- Overweight is one of the causes of chronic lower back and osteoarthritis pain
- Individuals with normal weight are at lower risk of this type of pain
6. Overweight worsens the situation in fibromyalgia patients
You can expect the physical symptoms of fibromyalgia (a rheumatic condition) to become worse if you are overweight. To be more precise, those extra pounds on your body will worsen the stiffness, morning tiredness, fatigue and pain levels. When people manage to normalize their weight, they are actually improving the quality of life, sleep quality and cut pain sensitivity. Try to eat healthy foods and exercise to fight this condition.
- Overweight increases the risk of fibromyalgia
- It makes the symptoms of this condition worse
- A change in your lifestyle will make this problem much simpler
7. Overweight has a bad impact on post-surgical recovery
There are situations when people have to undergo surgical procedure for different reasons. After a successful surgery, it’s crucial for these people to recover fast and in a proper way. However, if the individual that underwent a surgical procedure is overweight, the situation will become complicated. Namely, post-operative recovery is much slower in overweight individuals. The so-called convalescence period is unusually long compared to other persons. In addition, patients like this are more sensitive to opioids and sedatives and their effects which can lead to additional pain.
- Overweight people are recovering slower after surgeries compared to other patients
- It’s more difficult to prepare for surgery when you are overweight
- Overweight individuals feel more pain because the medications don’t act in the same way in overweight people
