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Effects of Obesity on Function and Quality of Life in Chronic Pain Conditions

  • CHRONIC PAIN (R STAUD, SECTION EDITOR)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Many people throughout the world have both chronic pain and obesity. Overweight and obese people are more prone to a proinflammatory state manifesting as metabolic syndrome but also to a higher prevalence of chronic pain comorbidities. Obesity and a high body mass index (BMI) are associated with impaired functional capacity and reduced quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic pain conditions. Systemic inflammation is not only involved in metabolic syndrome but it also initiates and perpetuates chronic pain. Changes in lifestyle, behavior, physical activity, and diet have demonstrated benefits in functional capacity and QoL; therefore, patient assessment should tackle high BMI and metabolic syndrome as part of the treatment of chronic pain. A healthier lifestyle would lead to a lower inflammatory state and consequently to an improvement in function and QoL in overweight or obese patients who have chronic pain conditions.

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Acknowledgments

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or nonprofit sector. The authors are grateful to Rosanna Shand for her help in the linguistic revision of the text.

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Conflict of Interest

Laura-Isabel Arranz, Magda Rafecas, and Cayetano Alegre declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Joan XXIII, s/n., 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Laura-Isabel Arranz

  2. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Magda Rafecas

  3. Rheumatology Unit Hospital Universitario Quirón Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain

    Cayetano Alegre

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  1. Laura-Isabel Arranz
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  2. Magda Rafecas
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  3. Cayetano Alegre
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Correspondence to Laura-Isabel Arranz.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Chronic Pain

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Arranz, LI., Rafecas, M. & Alegre, C. Effects of Obesity on Function and Quality of Life in Chronic Pain Conditions. Curr Rheumatol Rep 16, 390 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-013-0390-7

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