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Disc degeneration of the lumbar spine in relation to overweight

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 903–908 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the association between overweight and lumbar disc degeneration.

DESIGN:

Population-based 4-y follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study.

SUBJECTS:

The subjects were 129 working middle-aged men selected to the baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study from a cohort of 1832 men representing three occupations: machine drivers, construction carpenters, and office workers. The selection was based on the paticipants’age (40–45 y) and place of residence. MR images of the lumbar spines were obtained at baseline and at 4-y follow-up.

MEASUREMENTS:

Signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus of the discs L2/L3–L4/L5 was visually assessed by two readers using the adjacent cerebrospinal fluid as an intensity reference. The weight (at age 25 and 40–45 y) and height of the subjects, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries were assessed by questionnaire.

RESULTS:

Multiple regression analyses allowing for occupation, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries showed that persistent overweight (body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 at both ages) associated strongly with an increased risk of the number of lumbar discs with decreased signal intensity of nucleus pulposus at follow-up, adjusted odds ratio (OR) being 4.3 (95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) 1.3–14.3). Overweight at young age (risk ratio (RR) 3.8; 95% CI 1.4–10.4) was a stronger predictor of an increase in the number of degenerated discs during follow-up than overweight in middle age (RR 1.3; 95% CI 0.7–2.7).

CONCLUSIONS:

The study provides evidence that the BMI above 25 kg/m2 increases the risk of lumbar disc degeneration. Overweight at young age seems to be particularly detrimental.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Finnish Work Environment Fund. All authors contributed to the development of the key ideas of the paper, and to the interpretation of the results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41a A, Helsinki, Finland

    M Liuke, S Solovieva, K Luoma, P Leino-Arjas, R Luukkonen & H Riihimäki

  2. Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Stenbäckinkatu 9, Helsinki, Finland

    A Lamminen

  3. Department of Radiology, Peijas Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Vantaa, Finland

    K Luoma

Authors
  1. M Liuke
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  2. S Solovieva
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  3. A Lamminen
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  4. K Luoma
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  5. P Leino-Arjas
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  6. R Luukkonen
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  7. H Riihimäki
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H Riihimäki.

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Competing interest:

None declared.

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Liuke, M., Solovieva, S., Lamminen, A. et al. Disc degeneration of the lumbar spine in relation to overweight. Int J Obes 29, 903–908 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802974

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