Whether it’s extra weight gained from holiday eating or excess weight you’ve carried for years, the new year is the perfect time to lose it.
I’ve written before about reasons to maintain a healthy weight at Why Obesity matters. Multiple health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, even cancer can stem from excess weight.
But here’s another reason to shed those excess pounds or kilos- pain.
Obesity increases the risk of chronic pain especially back pain , and weight loss leads to significant decrease in pain, sometimes more effectively than medications and surgery.
Pain in the spine , hips and knees may worsen with excess weight. (skeleton display at the Museum of Natural Science in New York City)
Pain management specialists discussed the relationship of obesity and back pain at the American Academy of Pain medicine annual meeting. Medical research studies conducted at the Mayo Clinic linked obesity to back pain. Other studies implicated obesity in cases of arm, knee, hip and back pain in adolescents as well as elderly people.
A study from Norway of 64000 people showed
people with a BMI greater than 30
were more likely to develop low back pain
than those with a BMI under 25.
A BMI OF 30 or more represents obesity. BMI Chart created by Vertex42.com. Used with permission.
And an Australian study showed that both
obesity and smoking are related to back pain.
sign posted at a produce market in rural Georgia
So don’t just resolve to lose weight,
set a goal
make a plan
put it into action
Here is a recap of this blog’s obesity related information to help you get started.
A June 2025 update discusses research linking obesity to increased breast cancer severity due to changes in breast fat tissue. There’s no evidence of dietary soy increasing breast cancer risk. A Mediterranean diet may lower incidence rates, while smoking raises the risk. Dr. Eliza Port’s guidebook offers valuable insights for patients.
This information is current as of the date of original publication or update but may have changed by the time you read this. Do not use this information for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Before making health decisions, discuss with a qualified healthcare professional.
Update June 12, 2025
I suggest you review this updated post about breast cancer.
In October, awareness of breast cancer is highlighted. This common cancer affects both women and men, with various types identified. Risk factors include age, genetics, and lifestyle. Early detection and preventive measures can significantly improve outcomes, emphasizing the need for education and support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Researchers at Cornell University see a potential link between obesity and breast cancer. Obesity may change the adipose (fat) tissue in the breast making it more susceptible to malignant (cancerous) changes. This may explain why breast cancer is sometimes more severe in patients who are also obese.
A BMI OF 30 or more represents obesity. BMI Chart created by Vertex42.com. Used with permission.
Because soy has similar effects to estrogen, there was concern that it might predispose women to breast cancer. but in a review of 7 medical studies, there was no association between dietary soy and breast cancer. Women who had previously had breast cancer has less risk of recurrence and lower mortality.
A 6 year study of 4000 women found a lower incidence of breast cancer in women who ate a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, as compared to a group following a “low fat” diet. (However, only 35 cancers occurred during this time, so the numbers are not significant enough to draw definite conclusions.)
The Mediterranean diet provides many health benefits.
The Canadian National Breast Screening Study of almost 90,000 women found that smoking, especially long term smoking prior to a first pregnancy, increased the risk for breast cancer.
Smoking adversely affects health in many ways.
This is an affiliate link.
Dr. Eliza Port, a breast surgeon at The Mount Sinai Hospital has written this guidebook on breast cancer which shows patients
“How to Navigate Your Diagnosis and Treatment Options-and Remain Optimistic-in an Age of Information Overload “
In The New Generation Breast Cancer Book , Dr. Port “describes every possible test and every type of doctor visit, providing a comprehensive, empathetic guide that every newly diagnosed woman (and her family) will want to have at her side.”
Exploring the HEART of Health
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