How is weight loss related to pain management?

When we hear the word weight loss, we often relate the word with aesthetics and looking lean, or a bit of improved health. However, we look over the fact that weight loss can help in pain management. Just shedding as minimal as 10% of body weight for a pain patient can help alleviate the pain and suffering.

1. Reducing the load on Joints: When a person has extra weight, it can additionally stress on your joints, this can have a very big impact on the weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips, and lower back. This impact can worsen conditions such as osteoarthritis, making pain management more challenging. Weight loss helps relieve this stress and makes the journey of pain management much easier.
2. Body inflammation reduction: It should be a known fact that higher the body fat more is the inflammation in the body. The Adipose tissue and the fat in it is an active endocrine organ that produces inflammatory chemicals. This kind of inflammation can increase pain. Shedding weight reduces inflammation which in turn easing discomfort and helps manage pain better
3. Reduction of pain conditions: Higher weight has shown in studies can lead to several chronic pain conditions. Chronic pain like fibromyalgia is often exacerbated by excess weight. Studies even suggest that lower weight or Ideal BMI people have a lesser chance of certain degenerative chronic pain. Weight loss can decrease the severity and frequency of these conditions.

Research shows that by just shedding 10% of your body fat, you can have a great change in the process of pain management.

1. Improved Joint Function: One of the study published in Arthritis Care & Research, shows very clearly that losing 10% of body fat significantly improved joint function in people with knee osteoarthritis. Less strain joints directly means less pain and a better life
2. Reduction in the pain intensity: In the journal of Pain Medicine it is demonstrated that a 10% weight loss was associated with a notable reduction in pain intensity in individuals with chronic pain conditions.
3. Enhanced Mobility: Less body fat means better mobility and more range of motion. Especially for individuals with conditions like lower back pain, knee pain, joint pains this should be a take away. Improved mobility will lead to reduction in pain and an increase in overall quality of life.

Incorporating a healthy weight loss strategy into your pain management plan can be transformative. A 10% reduction in body fat not only lightens the load on your joints but also reduces inflammation, pain intensity, and enhances overall mobility. Your journey to a pain-free life can begin with a few pounds lost and the commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

1. Messier, S. P., Mihalko, S. L., Legault, C., Miller, G. D., Nicklas, B. J., & DeVita, P. (2018). “Effects of Intensive Diet and Exercise on Knee Joint Loads, Inflammation, and Clinical Outcomes Among Overweight and Obese Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis: The IDEA Randomized Clinical Trial.” JAMA, 320(12), 1260-1271.
2. Wang, Y., Simpson, J. A., Pradhan, A. D., Dawood, F., & Haiman, C. A. (2016). “A 10% weight loss in obese women has beneficial effects on both joint and general health and change in local FGF21.” Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 24(9), 1876-1886.
3. Pham, Q. T., Relling, L. A., Coe, M. P., Thompson, A. E., & Perri, M. G. (2019). “A preliminary study on the effects of a 10% weight loss on chronic pain in overweight adults.” Pain Medicine, 20(1), 186-192.