Overweight Children Are Likely to Experience Back Pain

Being overweight and having too much body mass that is disproportionate to your height is not a sign of a healthy body. For children, being overweight at an early age can lead to the premature degeneration of their spine, as reported by the Radiological Society of North America.

Body mass index is the proportion between the body weight of the person and his or her height. The higher the BMI level, the more overweight or obese they are.  According to RSNA, children that have a higher BMI, or body mass index, are more prone to experiencing spinal abnormality than children with a lower BMI.

The higher their risk for spinal degeneration, the more likely they are to experience disc disorders such as herniated disc or bulging disc. Back pain in children is often caused by muscle spasms, and that pressure on their nerves, brought about by their disc disorders, will cause pain and weakness in the child.  That, in turn, can affect the quality of their life.

RSNA studied 188 children between the ages of 12 and 20. About 68.5 percent of the total number of patients with a higher BMI had an abnormal finding in their spine. Only 34.6 percent of the total number of patients with a lower BMI, or children at or below a healthy weight, had abnormal findings.

While there are various ways to help overweight children start maintaining a healthier weight, chiropractic treatment is ideal if they experience pain in their lower back. Treatments will help them manage their pain well without interfering with their everyday activities. It will also help foster a positive outlook, which will help them through the process more effectively.

Source: Radiological Society of North America, 2009-12-01

-Dr Sid
Esprit Wellness