Back pain is a common phenomenon among the general population. Its prevalence is greatly increased in the obese. Obesity, or the condition of being dangerously overweight, greatly increases the stress placed on the spine and the muscles of the back. The spine is a series of joints. Vertebrae, the bones of the spine, are separated from each other by cushions calls discs. The discs serve as shock absorbers for the forces exerted on and by the body. The spine is designed to be durable enough to support the body's weight.
The spines of people with obesity must try to absorb much greater shock than those of people with less body mass. Another component of obesity that affects the back is a lack of muscle tone. When the muscles of the back, abdomen and pelvis are not strong, they fail to provide structural support to the spine. This combined with excess weight can result in a number of painful conditions, including:
-Subluxation and Spondylolisthesis (the displacement of a vertebra)
-Degenerative Disc Disease
(the wearing down of spinal discs resulting in friction and limited shock absorption)
-Herniated or Bulging Disc
(when the outer ring of the disc wears and the gel in the center is pushed to one side, either bulging the disc or causing the gel to leak out)
-Posture Distortion
(caused by the spine's inability to hold itself upright, leading to pain in the back, pelvis, neck and shoulders. Distorted posture can eventually result in the above conditions.)
Financial Obstacles
Dealing with obesity and its complications can be a difficult mission to embark upon. Frequent visits to the doctor cost enough to bankrupt most of us without health insurance. Even the insured may struggle to make co-pays and afford medications. A million diet plans exist to help people lose weight, but tailoring a budget to a diet is difficult for many of us. Alternative treatments like chiropractic care and exercise therapy to repair damage to the spine may be too expensive or nonexistent in your area.
With these obstacles, finding a solution to obesity and its consequences may seem impossible, or at least too overwhelming to pursue. However, there is always something you can do on your own to improve your health. With a little creativity and a lot of motivation, you can work around obstacles. This work is for your health and your life. You're worth it.
New Habits, New Life
Most instances of obesity stem from the ready availability and affordability of unhealthy foods. The American government subsidizes crops that are used to produce fats and sugars at a very low cost. These products are frighteningly pervasive; their low cost and versatility makes them perfect for use as stretchers and sweeteners in any product. The easiest and most affordable foods to obtain are those with the most calories and least nutritional value.
It may have made sense to eat the foods that are easiest to come by, but now that you see their toxic effects on your body, it is time to change dietary habits. You can cut down and eventually eliminate foods from your repertoire that are pre-made and heavily processed. A good test for the wholesomeness of a food product is to look at its ingredients. If there are any you cannot pronounce or whose source you cannot identify, it is best to pass on it.
For inspiration on cheap and easy meals without a bunch of processed junk in them, see http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2008/11/city-kitchen-chronicles-long-beans-and.html.
A study of people who wanted to establish a behavior showed that it takes, on average, 66 days for the behavior to become automatic. (More details on this study can be found at http://www.spring.org.uk/2009/09/how-long-to-form-a-habit.php.)
If you've practiced poor dietary hygiene your whole life, you cannot expect to revamp your eating habits completely overnight. Changing a long-standing habit is a process, and the attempt is most successful when conducted methodically.
Since the habit you are trying to establish is healthy eating, you will be replacing a bad habit with a good one. You may wish to plan ahead before beginning your movement toward health; get rid of all the tempting junk foods in your kitchen and reroute your drive to work if fast food chains may tempt you along the way, for example. Get yourself mentally prepared for the transition.
For some people, hunger is not the only trigger for food cravings. Many see food as an emotional comfort and seek solace in it when stressed or sad. Identifying what makes you want to eat too much or the wrong thing is a crucial step toward overcoming the habit.
By addressing obesity on your own when possible, you can reserve finances or insurance benefits for corrective treatments. Getting your weight in check may not be enough to heal the back pain that was caused by obesity. Your spine may be out of alignment, or your muscles may be weakened. A combination of weight loss and physical repair is likely necessary to restore back health.
Habitual and economic obstacles will not destroy your health unless they outweigh your motivation. A free source of power and healing is education. Research ways to lose weight safely, identify the possible sources of your back pain and work to resolve the issue. If possible, seek help from a physical therapist, chiropractor or doctor. There is always something you can do to help yourself.
Life is a matter of choice. And believe it or not so is back pain. However, obesity and back pain may not be. Questions, comments or stories related to this article can be submitted here Contact Us
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