Donald is 5'9" and weighs 240 pounds. He is a truck driver with constant back pain. His doctor has X-rayed his spine and found nothing wrong. He has seen a chiropractor off and on for the past two years, has been to the physical therapist, has taken muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications, and nothing has helped. His back still hurts!

Does Donald's back hurt because he is overweight, or does it hurt because he is so deconditioned that he cannot perform the exercises and body-mechanics positions that would protect his back and reduce the stress? Does obesity by itself cause back pain? The experts say no. However, they have concluded that a person who is overweight is unable to recover from a bout of back pain as quickly as someone who is in fairly good physical condition.

It is a difficult problem to address. If obesity does not cause back pain, it certainly contributes to the discomfort level. The obese individual may have weak muscles, leaving the spine vulnerable and unprotected. Excess body weight also puts more pressure on the lumbar spine, joints and discs. While obesity does not seem to increase the incidence of back pain, it does affect one's ability to respond to treatment. Therefore, a serious diet and a physical conditioning program may be the only solution to Donald's constant pain.