How is abdominal fat linked to chronic musculoskeletal pain?

Chronic Pain Awareness Month: Data from the UK Biobank has suggested that excess abdominal fat is associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain

The research involved 32,409 participants, mainly aged 55 on average and evenly split between genders, focused on MRI scans to measure visceral adipose tissue (VAT) around abdominal organs and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) just beneath the skin.

Experiencing chronic pain

Participants were also surveyed about chronic pain experienced in the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and knees, and generalised throughout the body for over three months.

A relationship between the amount of abdominal fat and the number of chronic pain sites was reported.

Higher levels of VAT, SAT, and their ratio, as well as body mass index (BMI), were associated with increased odds of experiencing chronic pain.

The association was stronger among women, where the ratio for multiple chronic pain sites was twice as high for VAT and significantly elevated for SAT and VAT compared to men.

The authors of the study explained that “Abdominal adipose tissue was associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain, suggesting that excessive and ectopic fat depositions may be involved in the pathogenesis of multisite and widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain.”

Chronic pain management

Factors such as age, ethnicity, lifestyle habits, and health conditions were also accounted for in the analyses, reinforcing the validity of the results.

The researchers acknowledged some limitations in the study, including a relatively small subset for repeat imaging and the absence of pain severity assessments.

They are aware of the need for future studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods to explore pain p[patterns and fluctuations in more detail.

“Therefore, reducing abdominal adiposity may be considered a target for chronic pain management, particularly in those with pain in multiple sites and widespread pain,” added the researchers.

While the researchers acknowledge the study’s limitations, they advocate for considering abdominal adiposity as a potential target in chronic pain management strategies, especially for individuals experiencing pain in multiple body sites.

This approach could lead to new therapeutic routes aimed at mitigating chronic musculoskeletal pain in affected populations.