Young Obese Patients May Risk Back Pain

12/07/2009

Medical professionals have long warned parents about the dangers of childhood obesity, which can contribute to serious conditions over time that greatly affect one's quality of life as well as the amount they may end up paying for health insurance.

When it comes to obesity-related medical problems, much of the current focus is on diabetes and heart disease, both of which are very serious conditions that have become increasingly common among Americans of all ages.

However, a recent Reuters report cites back problems as yet another potential medical issue for parents and young people to be on guard against. The wire service cited research which found that many young people who sought treatment for severe back pain were found to have various abnormalities in the discs found in their lower spine. Researchers reportedly disregarded patients whose back pain was linkable to a physical trauma or related factor.

Reuters quoted Dr. Judah Burns of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore as saying that the research "is the first study to show an association between increased body mass index and disc abnormalities in children."

Overall, getting into healthy routines that include a proper diet and exercise can go a long way toward helping people enjoy a far better quality of life as they get older.

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