title: Impact of overweight and obesity on the musculoskeletal system using lumbosacral angles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overweight and obesity have been identified as independent risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. However, the association between obesity and low back pain remains controversial. Little is known about the effects of overweight and obesity on the angles of the lumbosacral spine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) on lumbosacral angles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of BMI and WHR on the lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), lumbosacral angle (LSA), sacral inclination angle (°°), and lumbosacral disc angle (LSDA) of 174 overweight and obese subjects (test group) and 126 underweight and normal-weight subjects (control group) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The test group had a significantly higher mean LSA, LLA, sacral inclination angle (SIA), and LSDA (P=0.001). A significant correlation was noted between BMI and LSA (P=0.001), LLA (P=0.001), SIA (P=0.001), and LSDA (P=0.03). There was also a positive relationship between WHR and LSA (P=0.012), LLA (P=0.009), SIA (P=0.02), and LSDA (P=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an increase in lumbosacral angles in individuals with raised BMI and WHR. This may result in biomechanical changes in the lumbosacral spine, which increase the incidence of low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ndubuisi Oc
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Onyemaechi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Godson E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Anyanwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Obikili
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Okechukwu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Onwuasoigwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Okechukwu E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Nwankwo
keywords: body mass index; lumbosacral angles; waist–hip ratio