You probably know that overweight and obesity contribute to the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. But did you know that surplus body weight — particularly excess fat mass — is a significant cause of back pain?

While there are a plethora of excellent reasons to maintain a healthy body weight, Dr. Lockstone finds that, for many patients, the hope of preventing back pain is the extra motivation they need to finally commit to getting in shape. If you need to shed a few pounds, read on to learn about fasci-nating research, which is inspiring many patients to watch what they eat and exercise regularly