Can Fat Cause Pain? (2 Minute Listen or Read)

Can Fat Cause Pain?

Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/ug3qQCNgCQ4?si=RpWz_scryCRIC0R8

or read below...

Weight loss is commonly recommended to manage conditions like high cholesterol or knee pain, where the link to improved health is clear.

But what about shedding a few pounds for something like ongoing shoulder pain or persistent discomfort in the wrist and hand joints - these don’t even bear your bodyweight?

Why would weight loss matter in these cases?

The truth is excess body fat isn’t just an inert substance weighing us down.

Fat is metabolically active, secreting hormones and substances—many of which are harmful to our health.

These secretions are often pro-inflammatory and a potential contributor to pain.

How Does Fat Influence Pain?

Excess fat cells produce inflammatory mediators.

This increased inflammation often correlates with heightened pain levels.

Even consuming fatty foods can have a fast acting pro-inflammatory effect, potentially worsening inflammation-related pain.

Let’s break it down:

• Fat cells: Beyond storing energy, they release inflammatory mediators.
• The liver: In response to these mediators, the liver secretes C-reactive protein (CRP), a common marker of inflammation measured in blood tests.
• The nervous system: The interaction of these inflammatory mediators with your nervous system may exacerbate pain.

This chain reaction demonstrates how excess fat contributes to systemic inflammation, making it reasonable to link obesity with pain—even in non-weight-bearing joints.

Managing Pain Through Diet and Weight Loss

Addressing diet and obesity is an important step in managing joint pain. Reducing excess body fat and adjusting diet may lead to significant pain relief.

However, it’s crucial to remember that fat is an essential part of any diet.

Your body needs fat to survive, and maintaining a healthy body fat percentage is about balance—it shouldn’t be too low or too high.

The connection between fat, inflammation, and pain offers a compelling reason to consider dietary adjustments as part of a pain management strategy.