Obesity is linked with pain and mobility limitations in adult women
A systematic review linked obesity with pain, walking changes and difficulty with everyday movements in adult women. The abstract does not quantify the size of these associations.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found associations between obesity and poorer musculoskeletal health and mobility in adult women. Lower back pain, altered walking patterns and difficulty with weight-bearing activities were prominent findings. These results describe relationships across the reviewed evidence; they do not establish that obesity alone caused the problems or identify an effective treatment.
The abstract does not report the number of included studies, their designs, effect sizes or certainty ratings. Those omissions limit assessment of how consistent or clinically substantial the associations were.
What differed in walking
The review considered bones, joints and soft tissues alongside functional mobility. Reported walking differences included greater pressure under the feet, changed movement patterns and more energy used while walking, linking the question to everyday function.
Association and treatment are different questions
Higher body mass index was associated with limitations in walking, climbing stairs and rising from a chair. Although the authors call for targeted interventions, the abstract does not report a test of any treatment.
The original publication
Association of obesity with musculoskeletal health and functional mobility in females-a systematic review.
Menoth Mohan D, Al Anouti F, Kohli N et al.
Int J Obes (Lond) · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40968131
- Record checked
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