Relationships Between Body Mass Index, Fat Mass, Muscle Mass, and Musculoskeletal Pain in Community Residents

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the relationships between fat mass, muscle mass, fat:muscle mass ratio, metabolic syndrome, and musculoskeletal pain in community residents.Methods. In the Korean Health and Genome Study, 1,530 participants (mean ؎ SD age 60.8 ؎ 8.60 years) completed pain questionnaires and underwent dual x-ray absorptiometry to calculate body composition. Pain was categorized according to the number of pain regions, such that widespread pain, defined as pain above the waist, below the waist, on both sides of the body, and in the axial region, represented the most severe pain. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the International Diabetes Federation 2005 recommendations, and the association between metabolic syndrome and pain was evaluated by dividing the population into 4 groups, according to the presence/absence of metabolic syndrome and of high body mass index (BMI).Results. Total fat mass and fat:muscle mass ratio were significantly and positively associated with musculoskeletal pain among female subjects only. Compared to the lowest quartile of fat:muscle mass ratio, the odds ratios for widespread pain among subjects in other quartiles were significantly increased after adjustment for confounders. Widespread pain was more prevalent among subjects with metabolic syndrome whether their BMI was high or normal, especially among female subjects.Conclusion. Increased fat mass and fat:muscle mass ratio were significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain among women. Widespread pain was significantly associated with a high fat:muscle mass ratio after adjustment for confounders. Understanding the relationship between fat mass and pain may provide insights into preventative measures and therapeutic strategies for musculoskeletal pain.

Relationship between Pain Intensity, Body Mass Index and Psychological Status of Geriatric Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

“…The present study also indicated that there was no significant relation between pain intensity and body mass index. Consistent with our results a Korean study claimed that pain was more prevalent among subjects with metabolic syndrome whether their BMI was high or normal (31) . On the other hand, an Australian study reported that obese individuals with knee OA reported more pain and worsened function (2) .…”

Inflammation, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Opioid Use Are Associated With Pain and Disability in Patients With Cirrhosis

“…Alcohol itself can cause anti-nociceptive effects. 31 Additionally, pain has been associated with adiposity 32 , and BMI was significantly higher among members of our cohort with HCV and NASH than alcohol. BMI fell out of the models because it was not related to pain in this group, but this factor should be further explored in larger studies.…”

Obesity and Chronic Pain

“…This association was confirmed in a recent Korean study, which showed that an increase in adipose tissue mass and adipose tissue mass/muscle ratio was associated with musculoskeletal pain among women. 74 A cohort study of 385 female Finnish kitchen workers, evaluated repeatedly at 3-month intervals over 2 years, 75 documented an increased prevalence of widespread pain (OR, 2.8) associated with obesity. Conversely, not being obese was associated with a reduced prevalence of widespread pain (OR, 3.7), defined in this study as hurting at 3 or more of 7 sites.…”