Lumbar Disc Degeneration Is Linked to Dorsal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness at the L1-L2 Intervertebral Disc Level Measured by MRI.

Background: Obese individuals have a higher risk of degenerative disc disease (DDD). Currently, body mass index is not sensitive enough to differentiate between muscle and fat distribution, and obesity-related health issues are linked to the way body fat is distributed. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between the dorsal subcutaneous fat thickness (DSFT) of the lumbar spine, an alternative measurement tool of body fat distribution, and DDD.