Can Weight Gain Cause Low Back Pain?

A proper standing posture, which is the position that ensures your body is in equilibrium, dictates that your chin should be up and your chest out and your stomach should be tucked in naturally which ensures your spine maintains an inward arc keeping your hips straight. This helps you maintain your balance through proper weight distribution. Obesity (or being overweight) destroys this natural body alignment. Hirst says, “Having excess weight will also alter someones posture which again can contribute to back pain.” It leaves the spine carrying excess weight while working twice as hard to maintain your body’s balance. This leads to back pain and, over time, your body will adapt an unnatural symmetry that you may not notice because it happens incrementally. This change can be corrected with weight loss and the help of a chiropractor.

Back pain can be debilitating and can affect many people’s physiological, psychological, and even social functioning rendering them incapable of walking, driving, working in jobs that require physical involvement such as construction, or even going to social functions. There are corrective measures that can also double as preventive measures you can take to remedy this situation.

It’s important for you to see a doctor for a checkup or physical if you think you are overweight, or if you experiencing back pain. Talk to your doctor about your diet, exercise, and lifestyle patterns. The doctor can then instruct you on how manage your weight, take care of your body, and help you come up with a strategy to reverse your condition. Hirst says, “Understanding your body and how it functions is key to success with weight loss. Sustaining weight loss can also be challenging. Seeing the right health care professional can help give you the tools and knowledge to start the weight loss journey and keep it up.”

The next step is begin the exercises recommended by your physician to get rid of the excess weight. This doesn’t mean you hit the gym immediately. Start by developing consistent walking or bike riding habits. Exercise the same time each day and enlist the help of your family and friends to walk along side you. “It is extremely important to have the support of family and friends,” shares Hirst. “Having the encouragement of loved ones support you will help boost your confidence and keep you going.”

“Consuming too much sugar can lead to high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and weight gain,” she says, adding that the easiest and most overlooked way of consuming sugar is through processed foods and beverages. “This includes sport drinks and healthy juices which can sometimes have just as much sugar as a soda.”

She admits the first couple of days will be difficult, if you remember why you’re doing it — to lessen inflammation. “Weeding yourself off of sugar can be done, but it is easier if you also include all refined carbohydrates (i.e., bread). Modern wheat and sugar are chemically very close.” she says, adding that cravings can be managed with increased water intake.

Hirst agrees, “I am a big believer in the use of support groups. They can be a great resource for recipe ideas, inspiration, motivation and allowing you to realize you are not alone.”

If you are overweight and looking for the best way to get back to living a healthy, pain-free lifestyle, follow these tips and find the best option for you to turn back the clock and enjoy life.

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