High baseline fat mass, but not lean tissue mass, is associated with high intensity low back pain and disability in community-based adults

Low back pain is the largest contributor to disability worldwide. The role of body composition as a risk factor for back pain remains unclear. Our aim was to examine the relationship between fat mass and fat distribution on back pain intensity and disability using validated tools over 3 years. Participants (aged 25–60 years) were assessed at baseline using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure body composition. All participants...