Back Pain and Weight: Does it Really Affect Your Spine?
With statistics showing that at least 36% of people suffer from obesity, most of us could stand to lose a few pounds. And while dieting and exercise aren't always fun, your weight impacts more than just your overall health.
That lingering back pain you're feeling? It could be from more than just forgetting to stretch. Your back and spine could suffer insurmountable damage from the extra weight. Keep yourself healthy and get informed. Here's how back pain and weight correlate and what you can do to lose some pounds -- and pain.
Does Weight Affect Your Spine?
We'll start by addressing a common question: Does weight affect spinal health? In short, yes, it affects your spine a great deal. Our backs are structured so that the spine takes the overwhelming majority of our weight. As one might expect, the more weight placed on the spine, the more stress is placed upon it.
Back Pain And Weight: What Causes It?
So now that we understand that weight does, indeed, cause back pain, let's look at why. Due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, those who struggle with their weight likely have weaker bones. As it turns out, obesity puts you at an increased risk for diseases like osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Each disease affects bone health in a unique manner.
Osteoporosis, for instance, affects the strength of your bones. Over time, our bodies naturally lose bone mass. However, certain factors such as not getting enough calcium can speed up the process. When combined with extra pressure on the spine, the spine is frail and vulnerable. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis wear down joints, making even the simplest movements painful.
Weight And Posture
Our bodies are pretty tremendous when you stop to think about it. They're wonderful, malleable miracles capable of all sorts of adaptation. But that isn't always an asset. Take your posture, for example. Now, most of us are guilty of slouching, whether from sitting at a desk all day or just poor habits. Over time, our back and spine adjust to our posture. So those who slouch are far more likely to have a curved back or slight hunch. But changing your posture can actually help you lose weight. Standing up straighter burns more calories on average and can relieve back pain.
How Can You Prevent Back Pain?
The good news is that there are steps you can take each and every day to help both back pain and weight problems. First, make sure you're getting up and moving around. Even just 30 minutes of activity a day can do wonders for your body. Next, make sure that you're practicing good posture habits. Next time you catch yourself slouching, stand up straight. Losing a few pounds can help take some of the stress of your spine. Look for a great doctor-supervised weight loss program to help you lose the weight. Finally, exercise. Sure, it isn't the most fun thing in the world, but even light exercise is great for the body. Yoga and pilates are two great examples. Both rely on simple, slow stretches that can help those with back pain.
Say Goodbye To Back Pain
It's true that there's a pretty big correlation between back pain and weight. However, you can do something about it. Follow the above tips and get in touch. Our weight loss program combined and nonsurgical treatments can help you live pain-free. Get in touch and schedule a consultation today. Your back pain will be gone before you know it!
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