It is estimated that 30 % of the global population suffers from LBP and 80 % experience LBP at some point in their lives [1, 2]. In the United States, low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common medical burdens to cause loss of work time and disability [2, 3]. LBP is considered the most common work-related disability and second most common neurological ailment [2]. Additionally, LBP accounts for heavy economic, societal, and human burden [4].

A number of epidemiological investigations have been performed to determine the work-related risk factors that lead to LBP. It has been found that occupational factors such as prolonged sitting and standing, awkward lifting, and kneeling highly contribute to LBP [5, 14]. Even though genetics also play a role, research showed that individuals with LBP often engage in tedious jobs that require lifting objects or sitting and standing for long periods of time [6].

Age is a risk factor because the chances of experiencing LBP increases as one gets older [7, 8]. One in four persons over 80 years old experiences LBP, with people aged 41–50 years old experiencing LBP (28.5 %) within a 1 month period of time [7]. Muscle elasticity and bone strength decrease as people age, resulting in the loss of flexibility and fluidity in the disc reducing the ability to protect the vertebrae [9]. Literature indicates the abuse of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol also increases the risk for LBP [10]. Many individuals who suffer from LBP also smoke cigarettes and consume alcohol [10, 11].

Race is an additional risk factor for LBP [12]. According to Waterman, Belmont, & Schoenfeld, African Americans and Caucasians are more likely to have LPB than Asians [13]. This LBP incidence report based on racial background was consistent with the findings of Knox et al., who found that among military personnel, African Americans have the highest incidence of LBP at 43.7 for every 1000 people and Asians have the lowest incidence of LBP at 30.7 for every 1000 people [12].

Obesity is another common risk factor for LBP [14, 15]. Research demonstrated that obese people treated for LBP will experience better outcomes when they lose weight, particularly in cases of morbid obesity where the body mass index (BMI) is 40 and above [16]. An enlarged abdomen as a result of obesity has been shown to cause early degeneration of discs, which is associated with LBP [17]. Obesity is associated with disc degeneration because increases in body weight lead to tear and wear on discs and joints, increasing the physical demands on muscles and ligaments [17].

There are numerous health hazards associated with obesity, including stroke, heart disease, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, gallstones and gall bladder disease, gout, osteoarthritis and problems in sleeping [18, 19]. Therefore, it is always prudent to recommend weight loss to obese patients. Nonetheless, the role of obesity as a cause, as well as its reversibility as a cure for LBP remains unclear. Even though obesity has been found to be associated with LBP, it is not clear if obesity is a cause or a consequence of LBP [5, 14]. This study examined the relationship between BMI and LBP treatment outcome.

In an attempt to assess the soundness of recommending weight loss as a treatment for LBP, this study attempted to evaluate the role of BMI (and obesity) on participants’ responses to treatment for LBP. Previous studies have examined BMI as a risk factor for new onset LBP with mixed results [5]. Literature also indicates a weak association between obesity and the development of LBP may exist [22, 23]. However, the results of this study indicate that there may be an association between BMI and treatment outcome among participants randomized to medical or chiropractic care. While mean changes in low back pain intensity and disability were similar among the treatment groups [20], obesity may have an association with not having a positive outcome to treatment. This study also indicates that patients whose back pain is of a shorter duration are more likely to report improvement in their condition. Non-whites were also less likely to show improvement. These appear to be the only positive predictors of improved treatment outcomes within this study. Gender and treatment group (chiropractic or medical care with or without physical modalities) both failed to demonstrate any strong or consistent associations with the treatment outcomes.

The predictive value of weight gain on most severe pain scores (and not on disability and average pain scores) and smoking status on average pain scores may simply be chance findings.

Baseline disability and pain scores predicted outcomes. Clearly, those with higher baseline scores have more opportunity for improvement. However, disability improvement was considered a positive change of at least three and NRS improvement was considered a positive change of at least two. Within this framework, 93.6 % of participants had the opportunity to show improvement on disability (had baseline disability scores of three or higher). Likewise, 95.1 and 98.9 % had the opportunity to show improvement on the average and most severe pain scales, respectively (had baseline values of two or higher). It was considered that perhaps lower scores were indicative of a more chronic condition, less responsive to treatment. However, correlation procedures and contingency tables between duration of the episode and the improvement scores did not show any correlation. It is likely that many of the higher scores represented a temporary increase, perhaps severe enough to cause patients to seek care when they otherwise may not have, and spontaneous recovery may have occurred independent of treatment.

Results of this study suggest that BMI is a relevant predictor of response to treatment. Obese participants are less likely to show improvement from LBP treatment regardless of the care they receive.

The following limitations must be considered within the context of this study. Using BMI to indicate obesity may misclassify individuals who are excessively muscular and not excessively fat. Fat distribution must also be taken into account. Having excessive fat in the abdomen is considered riskier for developing LBP than when it is widespread through the body. Other measures of obesity involving skinfold measurements and body proportions may have yielded more accurate results. Non-obese patients with positive treatment outcomes included with the obese population would diminish the true effect of obesity on treatment outcomes.

There is potential for non-participation bias. The fact that 43.4 % of eligible participants did not participate may threaten the internal validity of the study. It is possible that obese participants who were less likely to improve were also less likely to participate, causing estimates to be biased due to selection. Participation may have been dependent on both prognosis and obesity. The minimal loss to follow-up in this study is a strength worth noting.

It is important to note that the data used in this study was originally collected 16–21 years ago. It is uncertain what effect, if any, this may have on the relevance of study outcomes on today’s population. However, there is no reason to believe that associations would be different in a more current LBP patient population.

Patient confidence may be weakly associated with an improved treatment outcome. Patients’ mental status should be considered when evaluating treatment outcomes, especially when self-reported subjective scales are used as with this study. Mental status could be a potential confounder of the obesity effect since depression may be predictive of obesity [24, 25]. Associations between back pain and measures of obesity may be stronger in individuals with an emotional disorder [26]. Additionally, since obesity may be associated with depression, mental status may be an intermediate in the causal pathway between BMI and treatment outcome. Data were collected on the subject’s mental status (SF-36) and the influence of these data were evaluated to assess the effect of psychological distress on low back pain as well as the effect of pain on subsequent distress [27].

An association between obesity and less favorable treatment outcomes was inferred in this study. There appears to be an association (p-value ≤ 0.05) between obesity and disability as well as obesity and subjective most severe pain. Individuals who gained weight (5 or more pounds) were less likely to report improvement in subjective most severe pain. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that an association exists between obesity and the prognosis of treatment for LBP.

Future studies with a larger sample size are needed to determine if the findings of this study are maintained over a longer follow-up period.