Association between low back disc degeneration and overweight

The reviewed study investigated if there was a relationship between overweight, obesity and the presence, extent and severity of low back disc degeneration (Samartzis D, et al. 2012). MRI was used in the evaluation and also measurements of height, weight and body mass index (BMI). 2,599 men and women with an average age of 41.9 years participated in the research.

As the BMI increased the researchers found a significant increase in the number of degenerated discs. They also found more severe degeneration and end-stage disc degeneration with disc space narrowing with elevated BMI. This was particularly true for the participants that were overweight or obese.

It was concluded that there was a significant association between the presence, the extent and the severity of low back disc degeneration in overweight and obesity when measured with MRI.

It was speculated that the reasons may be increased compression from the weight, but very interesting was that they also suggested it may be because of increased inflammation produced by the fatty tissue.

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