Obesity is a risk factor for musculoskeletal system disorders like neck pain, osteoarthritis and low back pain. This study efficiently depicted that obesity-induced systemic inflammation can fortify the paroxysmal and negative symptoms of neuropathic pain. It may worsen the neuropathic pain intensity and impair the nerve damage.

Overweight negatively affects musculoskeletal health; hence obesity is considered a risk factor for osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. This was conducted to determine if obesity affects neuropathic pain, usually considered unrelated to the weight-load on the musculoskeletal system.

Using a cut-off body mass index value of 25, 44 patients with neuropathic pain were grouped into a “high-BMI” group and a “normal-BMI” group.

The numeric rating scale of the high-BMI group was significantly higher than that of the normal-weight group (p <0.05). The total NPSI scores were significantly higher (p <0.01), and the paroxysmal pain and the negative symptoms were more serious in the high-BMI group than in the normal-BMI group. The high-BMI subjects also had significantly higher SF-MPQ scores (p <0.05). However, both physical and mental health status on the SF-36 were comparable between the groups.

Neuropathic pain that did not arise from musculoskeletal damage was higher in the high-BMI patients. Paroxysmal pain was more severe, suggesting that neural damage might be aggravated by obesity-associated inflammation. These findings should have needed to be confirmed in future studies.