Young Women’s Weight Gain Predicts Later Low Back Pain
Key clinical point: Weight and physical inactivity are potentially modifiable risk factors for low back pain.
Major finding: The risk for low back pain increased by 5% for every extra 5 kg in women’s weight; television viewing was found to be linked to low back pain in women, but not men.
Data sources: Data on more than 9,000 women born between 1973 and 1978 participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, and more than 6,000 men and women participating in the Australian Diabetes and Lifestyle Study.
Disclosures: The Australian Government Department of Health funded the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. The University of Newcastle and the University of Queensland provided additional funding. Dr. Wang and coauthors were supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia. Dr. Hussain is supported by Arthritis Australia.
AT OARSI 2016
“Increased television viewing is associated with an increase in low back pain disability but not intensity, but only in women,” Dr. Hussain reported. “Insufficient physical activity was not associated with back pain intensity or disability in either men or women.”
She suggested that television viewing time and other prolonged sedentary behaviors could be targeted to prevent low back pain disability, particularly in women, but perhaps also in men.
The Australian Government Department of Health funded the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. The University of Newcastle and the University of Queensland provided additional funding. Dr. Wang and coauthors were supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia. Dr. Hussain is supported by Arthritis Australia.
