Chronic Pain Associated with Abdominal Fat in Women – Study from the University of Tasmania

Chronic Pain and Its Connection to Abdominal Fat

Excess abdominal fat, particularly visceral fat, is significantly correlated with chronic pain in women, as revealed by a recent study from the University of Tasmania. With data from over 32,000 participants in the UK Biobank dataset, researchers found that women with higher amounts of visceral adipose tissue experienced widespread chronic pain more frequently than their counterparts with less abdominal fat.

Study Findings

• Visceral Fat: Women with more visceral fat were twice as likely to report chronic pain affecting multiple body areas.
• Subcutaneous Fat: A 60% increased likelihood of chronic pain was associated with higher levels of subcutaneous fat.
• Men's Data: While links exist, men showed a 34% and 39% increased chance of chronic pain in relation to visceral and subcutaneous fat, respectively.

This groundbreaking study, published in the journal Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, highlights the need to address abdominal fat as a potential method to alleviate chronic pain symptoms among women.

Research Implications

By utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure fat types and assessing participants' pain experiences over a span of two years, the research indicates a pressing need for further investigations into the obesity-pain relationship, particularly regarding visceral and subcutaneous fat types.