Patients suffering from fibromyalgia generally face a range of issues like mood disorders, tiredness, chronic pain, and sleep disturbances. On this front, investigators at Mayo Clinic claim that fibromyalgia symptoms could be due to the individual’s weight.
Nearly 888 fibromyalgia patients were inspected in the study. While half of them were obese, approximately one-fourth of the subjects were struck by severe obesity. The participants were surveyed regarding their symptoms and daily functions.
Study author Terry Oh, M.D., of Mayo Clinic’s Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, commented, “We see an association between body mass index with symptom severity and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. This was the first study to look at distinct groups of obese patients and determine how weight correlates with levels of symptoms and quality of life.”
The results showed that the intensity of symptoms apparently elevated with increase in obesity rates. Cumulatively, volunteers with a higher BMI reported more severe symptoms related to fibromyalgia along with a lower quality of routine life. As compared to non-obese individuals, those who were severely obese seemingly manifested higher pain scores.
Though a causal relationship between obesity and fibromyalgia did not seem to surface out, those suffering from fibromyalgia may be obese due to physical inactivity and pain cycles encountered in the process. Moreover, excessive body mass and chronic pain could be associated with a poor way of life and more susceptibility to disability.
Considering that BMI has been cited as an independent risk variable for fibromyalgia, the team urged weight management programs to be initiated for the treatment of the condition. The report is published in the journal, Arthritis Care & Research.