Correlation between Obesity and Lumbar Lordosis in Obese Pre-Menopausal Korean Females

Objective : Obesity is associated with degenerative arthropathy giving stress on joints. It also amplifies loads of weight bearing joints by changing the gravity line of the body. Our aim is to investigate the correlation between obesity and lumbar lordosis in obese pre-menopausal Korean females. The hypothesis was tested that there is a correlation between obesity and lumbar lordosis. Methods : A cross-sectional evaluation of 44 Females (baseline age 30.77 ± 6.46) with BMI 31.53 ± 3.82 (kg/㎡) was done. Body composition was measured using bio-impedance analysis (BIA), and anthropometry was done by the same observer. A lateral whole spine X-ray was taken in standing position to measure the lumbar lordotic angle (LLA), Ferguson angle (FA) and lumbar gravity line (LGL). A Pearson correlation was used to measure the correlation between obesity and lumbar lordosis (SPSS 10.0 for windows). Results : Body mass index (BMI kg/㎡) had a negative relationship with LLA((equation omitted)=-0.469), FA((equation omitted) =-0.347) and LGL((equation omitted)=-0.389). Body fat rate had a negative relationship with LLA only(γ=-0.385). Waist circumference had a negative relationship with LLA((equation omitted)=-0.345) and LGL((equation omitted)=-0.346). WH ratio had no relationship with lumbar lordosis. Conclusion : These data show that obesity is related to mechanical structures, such as lumbar lordosis. BMI was the most useful index, which reflects a change of mechanical structure of lumbar, more than other variables in this study.