Study explores obesity and chronic pain links

Washington, July 20 (ANI): While it is well known that obese people have a high incidence of persistent pain problems, a new study has found that comorbid obesity and pain also are linked to family history and mood disorders.

A team of researchers from the University of California San Diego, University of Washington and Veterans' Affairs San Diego Healthcare System explored how family history and psychological factors influence the relationship between obesity and chronic pain.

They examined data from a large community-based sample of twins (University of Washington Twin Registry) to probe the relationships between specific pain diagnoses and symptoms and obesity, depression, and familial factors.

As many as 3,471 individual twins were analyzed for the study.

Data from the research showed that overweight or obese twins were more likely to report physician-diagnosed low back pain, tension or migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, and abdominal and widespread pain.

Further, it was determined that depression and family history play a significant role linking high body mass index (BMI) and pain symptoms.

The findings were published in The Journal of Pain. (ANI)