title: Relationship between body mass index and fibromyalgia features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and features of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  211 female patients with FMS seen consecutively in our rheumatology clinic were analyzed. Spearman correlation was used. Further, FMS features were compared at different levels of BMI (kg/m2), e.g., < 25.00 vs > or = 25.00 (normal vs overweight). P value of < or = 0.01 was accepted as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant positive correlation was found between BMI and age (p<0.001) and a negative correlation between BMI and education (p<0.009). Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score was significantly correlated with BMI (p<0.001), whereas fatigue and number of tender points (TP) showed a trend (p=0.035 and 0.037, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HAQ score is significantly associated with BMI in FMS with a trend towards significance for fatigue and TP. Weight loss may improve physical functioning in this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, 61656, USA. yunus@uic.edu
authors.forename: Muhammad B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Yunus
authors.forename: Sule
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Jean C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Aldag
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires