Korean J Health Promot.  2018 Sep;18(3):119-126. 10.15384/kjhp.2018.18.3.119.

The Association of Low Back Pain with Obesity and Abdominal Obesity among Koreans Aged 50 Years or More

• Choi EY

• KMID: 2421870
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15384/kjhp.2018.18.3.119

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Both low back pain (LBP) and obesity are important public issues, but the association between them is controversial. This study was conducted to investigate the association of LBP with obesity and abdominal obesity among Koreans aged 50 years or more.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study analyzed data from participants aged 50 years or more (n=11,941) who measured height, weight and waist circumference and answered the questions about low back pain in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2013. To investigate the association of LBP with obesity and abdominal obesity, weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done after adjusting for socioeconomic variables and lifestyle variables.
RESULTS
The prevalence of LBP in men and women was 13.1% (standard error [SE], 0.6) and 31.0% (SE, 0.8), respectively, higher in women than men (P < 0.001). For women only, abdominal obesity was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of LBP (odds ratio [OR] 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.44) after adjustment of confounding variables, and the odds ratio of LBP in the highest quartile of waist circumference was higher compared to the lowest quartile of waist circumference (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02-1.66). For men abdominal obesity was not associated with an increased prevalence of LBP. There were no associations between obesity and LBP in both men and women.
CONCLUSIONS
This population-based, nationally representative study suggests that abdominal obesity increases the risk of LBP in women aged 50 years or more.

Keyword

Low back pain; Obesity; Obesity abdominal; Nutrition surveys

MeSH Terms

Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Life Style
Logistic Models
Low Back Pain*
Male
Nutrition Surveys
Obesity*
Obesity, Abdominal*
Odds Ratio
Prevalence
Waist Circumference

Reference

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