Obesity is one of the factors that can contribute to aherniated disc. There are several reasons for this. Carrying extra weight can lead to pressure on the intervertebral discs, and it can also affect your posture and how you position your spine. Researchers suggest that there might be other factors at play too, such as inflammation or metabolic changes associated with obesity.
If you’re overweight, weight loss can often help prevent a herniated disc from occurring, and it can even help resolve a herniated disc in some cases.
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How Obesity Causes Spine Issues
According to Dr. Kevin Cichocki, clinical chiropractor and founder of Palladian Health, alteration in the position of your pelvis andlumbar spinemay contribute to the wearing away of outer fibers in the back part of your discs. These outer fibers contain and protect the soft material that is responsible for cushioning and shock absorption in the spine.
Over time, the wear and tear on the fibers can cause problems. “The microscopic radial tears, as they are called, may lead to a complete rupture,” says Cichocki. “A rupture of the fibers allows the soft material on the inside to escape and land on anerve root.” This is one of the ways that a herniated disc causes pain. Most herniated discs occur between the side and back of the vertebra.
The Anatomy of Vertebral Endplates
Obesity Complicates Lumbar Spine Problems
Obesity can interfere with the diagnosis and treatment of spine disease. Sometimes, it can be difficult or impossible to obtain certain imaging tests, such as spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to weight restrictions. And a physical examination can be less helpful for identifying signs of nerve compression if you are obese. These factors may delay your diagnosis.
Physical therapy and exercise, which helps relieve obesity and spinal disc herniation, can be especially challenging if you are both obese and have a herniated disc. Obesity makes it difficult to move, often causing symptoms like shortness of breath or early fatigue with even minimal exercise.
And the pain of a disc herniation can make it hard to participate in the types of cardiovascular exercise that help achieve weight loss.
Overcoming these limitations is possible, but it may take extra dedication, and it can take time to feel the benefits.
Posture and Disc Position
Posterior Disc Bulge vs. Herniated Disc
Could You Have a Herniated Disc?
While some disc herniations don’t cause symptoms, someone with a herniated disc may experience symptoms such as pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling.
The location of symptoms can depend on the location of the herniation. The two most common locations for disc herniation are thecervical spine(neck area) and the lumbar spine (lower back). Disc herniations in the neck can affect the arms; disc herniations in the lower back would affect the buttocks and legs.
See your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms. If your herniated disc causes symptoms, you might be started on 6 weeks of conservative treatment. This can include medications, rest, and physical therapy. In some instances, surgery may be beneficial.
16 Exercises for Herniated Disc (Back or Neck) Pain
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sheng B, Feng C, Zhang D, Spitler H, Shi L.Associations between obesity and spinal diseases: A medical expenditure panel study analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Feb 13;14(2):183. doi:10.3390/ijerph14020183Tokmak M, Altiok IB, Guven M, Aras AB, Cosar M.Spontaneous regression of lumbar disc herniation after weight loss: Case report.Turk Neurosurg. 2015;25(4):657-61. doi:10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.9183-13.1
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sheng B, Feng C, Zhang D, Spitler H, Shi L.Associations between obesity and spinal diseases: A medical expenditure panel study analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Feb 13;14(2):183. doi:10.3390/ijerph14020183Tokmak M, Altiok IB, Guven M, Aras AB, Cosar M.Spontaneous regression of lumbar disc herniation after weight loss: Case report.Turk Neurosurg. 2015;25(4):657-61. doi:10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.9183-13.1
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sheng B, Feng C, Zhang D, Spitler H, Shi L.Associations between obesity and spinal diseases: A medical expenditure panel study analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Feb 13;14(2):183. doi:10.3390/ijerph14020183Tokmak M, Altiok IB, Guven M, Aras AB, Cosar M.Spontaneous regression of lumbar disc herniation after weight loss: Case report.Turk Neurosurg. 2015;25(4):657-61. doi:10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.9183-13.1
Sheng B, Feng C, Zhang D, Spitler H, Shi L.Associations between obesity and spinal diseases: A medical expenditure panel study analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Feb 13;14(2):183. doi:10.3390/ijerph14020183
Tokmak M, Altiok IB, Guven M, Aras AB, Cosar M.Spontaneous regression of lumbar disc herniation after weight loss: Case report.Turk Neurosurg. 2015;25(4):657-61. doi:10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.9183-13.1
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