CHRONIC PAIN AND OVERWEIGHT

The relationship between visceral fat and chronic pain has been the subject of several recent studies. Evidence suggests that visceral fat, a type of fat stored in the abdominal cavity, is associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal pain and widespread pain. A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology found that visceral fat, but not subcutaneous fat, is positively associated with worsening knee pain and generalized pain. This study suggests that visceral fat may contribute to pain through inflammatory mechanisms, as it is an important source of inflammatory cytokines and adipokines.[1] Another study in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine also found an association between MRI-derived abdominal adipose tissue and chronic multisite and widespread pain. This study showed a dose-response relationship between the amount of visceral fat and the number of chronic pain sites, with effects more pronounced in women than in men.[2] Additionally, a study in Pain indicated that central obesity, as measured by waist circumference, is significantly associated with chronic pain in older adults, independent of other factors such as insulin resistance and inflammatory markers.[3] In summary, visceral fat is associated with an increased risk of chronic musculoskeletal and widespread pain, likely due to its role in systemic inflammation. This relationship is more pronounced in women and may be an important factor to consider in the management of chronic pain.

References

1.Association of Visceral Adiposity With Pain but Not Structural Osteoarthritis. Li S, Schwartz AV, LaValley MP, et al. Arthritis & Rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.). 2020;72(7):1103-1110. doi:10.1002/art.41222.  Leading Journal 

2. MRI-derived Abdominal Adipose Tissue Is Associated With Multisite and Widespread Chronic Pain. Kifle ZD, Tian J, Aitken D, et al.Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. 2024;:rapm-2024-105535. doi:10.1136/rapm-2024-105535.

3. Mechanisms of Association Between Obesity and Chronic Pain in the Elderly. Ray L, Lipton RB, Zimmerman ME, Katz MJ, Derby CA. xPain. 2011;152(1):53-59. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2010.08.043.