2025/04/26 by Sidharth Sreedar
#Anatomy #Body Regions #Cells #Diseases #Medicine and Health Sciences #Other Medicine and Health Sciences #Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases
paper · doi:10.17605/osf.io/pag4k
Lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDDD) is a leading cause of chronic low back pain and disability, affecting millions worldwide. Growing evidence suggests that obesity plays a critical role in disc degeneration, with past research establishing correlations and emerging studies now supporting a causal relationship. This systematic review synthesizes existing literature to evaluate the impact of obesity on LDDD through seven key factors: Body Mass Index (BMI), metabolic health, radiographic evidence, movement, molecular components, population-based risk factors, and cellular degeneration. By conducting qualitative synthesis and effect size calculations, this review aims to quantify the association between obesity and disc degeneration, providing a comprehensive analysis of how obesity-related mechanisms contribute to spinal deterioration. These findings contribute to a clearer understanding of the biomechanical, biochemical, and systemic pathways linking obesity to LDDD, offering a refined perspective on its pathophysiology based on research data.