LOW-BACK-PAIN AND OBESITY IN PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE, RIYADH, SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective. To assess the prevalence of obesity and its association wit h low back pain in patients attending health care centres. Methods: A case-control study of 2460 Arab patients attending urban and rural hea lth centres in Riyadh region was conducted during Jan-Feb 1993. Twelve health centres participated in the study. All patients attending the health centres with low back pain (cases) were compared with patients free from back pain (non-cases). Results: The mean ages were 34 years for males and 32 years for females. Only 17.6% cases can be considered as non-obese compared with 42.6% non-obese among non-cases. The mean body mass index (BMI) of cases was 30.6 +/- 6.1 kg/M2 compared with 26 .7 +/- 5.8 kg/M2 of non-cases (p<0.01). Body mass indices were higher among females, those of low education, housewives, non-Saudis and the divorced or widowed than other groups (p<0.01). Patients living in rur al areas had higher BMI than those residing in urban areas (P<0.01). C onclusion: Low back pain is associated with obesity. The prevalence of obesity is higher in females, housewives, non-Saudia, the divorced, t he widowed, and among those living in rural areas.