Obesity Amplifying
Back Pain
Jun 11, 2005
A new patient survey has found that the rising rates
of obesity are affecting the American's overloaded backs.
National Survey of U.S. Spine Care professionals, done
by the experts at the North American Spine Society (NASS)
earlier this year, found that the number of obese patients
being treated for spine-related disorders has increased
67 percent over the past five years.
Eighty-seven per cent of the spine care professionals
in the survey agreed that obesity plays a major contributor
to back-pain, while 94 percent said they recommended
weight-loss as a treatment for obese patients. Fifty-five
percent of the spine care professionals found that weight
loss resulted in major improvements in their obese
patients' symptoms.
Following this, with the concern of heightening awareness
about the impact of obesity on the spine, NASS recently
launched its IVth Annual Patient Education Program -
"Take a Load off Your Back."
According to NASS Officials, the three most common
back problems in obese patients are Degenerative disc
disease, Spondylolisthesis (slippage of the lower back
disc), and Disc rupture or herniation.
Experts advice that Obese people need to change their
lifestyles, adopt healthier eating habits and follow
a regular exercise
program in order to reduce the burden and develop strength
on their spines.
Source: http://www.forbes.com
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