Can Being Overweight Cause Lower Back Pain: Mystery Revealed

Overweight and obese people experience many health issues solely caused by excess weight. That is one of the reasons why so many doctors and professionals recommend that people maintain a healthy weight instead of allowing themselves to indulge in whatever sugary or fatty foods they desire.

If you are overweight or obese, there is a good chance you are dealing with lower back pain. While this is also common with people who do not have weight problems, it is even more prevalent in people with weight problems. So, there has to be some kind of connection between excess weight and lower back pain.

So, can being overweight cause lower back pain? Stick around for the rest of the guide!

Can Being Overweight Cause Lower Back Pain?

Over the years, many scientists and doctors have tried to prove that excess weight can cause lower back pain. Countless research centers and universities have published studies on the topic, and the one conclusion that they come to is that there is always a link between the two.

So, obese and overweight people tend to have lower back pain because of their weight. Knowing this, they can take action and try to eliminate the issue, but the problem here is that some lower back pain points to more serious issues, such as the development of spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, neck pain, etc.

If you have one of these illnesses, you will have to put in more work to eliminate the problem. Some severe cases also require surgeries. However, such back surgeries are not recommended for overweight people as they are associated with higher risks. 

Overweight people also have much more difficulty recovering and sometimes never return to their old selves.

So, if there is no way to eliminate the pain through surgery, what else can you do?

Well, we are glad you asked. If you are dealing with severe lower back pain and other health issues, you can always lose weight and see if that helps resolve your issues. Losing weight will be a process, and it will take a long time, but at least it will help your overall health in ways nothing else can.

Read the next section to learn what you need to do to eliminate lower back pain!

Tips to Eliminate Lower Back Pain

While it can be caused by excess weight, lower back pain is also caused by insufficient or poor mobility, not sleeping enough or not having a comfortable bed, not minding your posture, etc. All of these things need to be addressed if you want to eliminate your lower back pain.

If you are determined to eliminate your lower back pain and all the health risk factors that come with it, here are some of the things you should try doing:

Commit to Losing Weight

For overweight and obese people, it all starts with losing weight. All that extra weight is not only causing a problem to your physical appearance but also causing problems to all your internal organs. Studies have shown that fat can press on the spine and cause it to tilt.

Whenever the spine is out of its neutral position, it will start causing back pain, and it can even go as far as causing herniated discs and poor spinal health. So, you will need to lose weight and exercise to get the spine back into its neutral position.

Start Working Out

You can lose the excess pounds by running, jogging, going to the gym, riding a bike, swimming, or doing any other physical activity requiring you to get up and move around. Moving is essential not only for weight loss but also for keeping your body in top shape. Sitting around without moving your body all day will cause you to stiffen and feel even more pain.

If you are heavier, start small and work towards more demanding exercises. Trust us – you will begin to see improvement in only a few weeks.

Improve Your Diet

Exercise is nothing without a proper diet. To lose weight, you will need to commit to a healthy diet. You do not need to starve yourself or limit yourself in any way. All you need to do is limit processed food, sugary drinks, sweets, and similar food that contains artificial coloring, flavoring, etc.

So, whenever you are ready to lose all the excess weight, make sure that you adjust your diet accordingly.

Sleep More

Another thing that might be contributing to your weight and your back pain is a lack of sleep. Not sleeping enough will cause you to add weight, and that will cause pain. So, try to improve your sleep regime and have at least eight hours of sleep at night.

Improve Posture

If you are not sitting properly or walking around with a bent back, you will start feeling back pain. That is never a good thing, so you should be as mindful as possible of your posture.

Try to keep your back straight at all times, no matter if you are sitting or standing. Try not to sit with crossed legs, and remember to keep your weight balanced on both feet. This will help you eliminate some of the lower back pain you feel.

Never Forget Your Goal

Finally, always remember your goal of losing weight to eliminate back pain. You might feel better after a few workouts, but that does not mean you should stop and never exercise again.

These things take time, so try to turn the exercise into a part of your daily routine. Find a jogging buddy or get a dog that you can take out often. These things will help you stay up and running, so try to make them a part of your routine and you will have no option to give excuses or drift away from your goal.

Wrap Up

Can being overweight cause lower back pain? Not all overweight people will deal with lower back pain, but most will. Lower back pain is caused by excess weight that puts a more considerable strain on the back, legs, knees, joints, and the entire body!

Instead of dealing with so many health issues – some that are quite severe – you can always lose weight and eliminate your problems, including lower back pain. We hope this guide taught you how to do that and inspired you to at least give it a shot!