The experiences of people living with obesity and chronic pain: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) protocol.

Introduction: There is a substantial and progressive association between chronic pain (CP) and living with overweight or obesity. The relationship between obesity and CP is intricate and complex, with obesity being associated with increased pain-related disability, pain intensity, reduction in physical functioning and poorer psychological well-being. A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) provides an opportunity to better understand and reveal key areas within the patient experience of these complex interactions to inform best practice and future intervention design.

Multidimensional pain profiling in people living with obesity and attending weight management services: a protocol for a longitudinal cohort study.

Introduction: Pain is prevalent in people living with overweight and obesity. Obesity is associated with increased self-reported pain intensity and pain-related disability, reductions in physical functioning and poorer psychological well-being. People living with obesity tend to respond less well to pain treatments or management compared with people living without obesity.

Obesity in Adults: A 2022 Adapted Clinical Practice Guideline for Ireland.

Background: This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the management of obesity in adults in Ireland, adapted from the Canadian CPG, defines obesity as a complex chronic disease characterised by excess or dysfunctional adiposity that impairs health. The guideline reflects substantial advances in the understanding of the determinants, pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment of obesity.

Summary: It shifts the focus of obesity management toward improving patient-centred health outcomes, functional outcomes, and social and economic participation, rather than weight loss alone.

The Association of Physical Function Measures With Frailty, Falls History, and Metabolic Syndrome in a Population With Complex Obesity.

Frailty, falls and metabolic syndrome are known to be associated with poorer physical function. This study builds on available research by further investigating the relationship between physical function measures, including those comprising frailty, with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and falls, in the context of complex obesity. Participants were recruited from the national Level 3 weight management service in Ireland.

Sleep duration and physical function in people with severe obesity: a prospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Subjects with severe obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m) have worse physical function and sleep less than lean people (BMI 18.5-25 kg/m).

Methods: In 554 subjects with severe obesity, we compared physical function in those with normal sleep duration (NSD, 6-9 h/night), short sleep duration (SSD, ≤ 6 h/night) and long sleep duration (LSD, ≥ 9 h/night).

Does changing weight change pain? Retrospective data analysis from a national multidisciplinary weight management service.

Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is common in obese populations. Multidisciplinary Tier 3 weight management services (WMS) are effective in reducing weight; however, MSK pain as an outcome is not routinely reported post-WMS interventions.

Methods: Following ethical approval this retrospective design study using anonymized data from a national WMS established changes in anthropometric and pain prevalence and intensity scores as well as establishing variables predictive of achieving clinically significant changes (CSC) in pain scores.

Musculoskeletal pain profile of obese individuals attending a multidisciplinary weight management service.

Obesity is associated with numerous chronic diseases, including musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, which affects on quality of life (QoL). There is, however, limited research providing a comprehensive MSK pain profile of an obese cohort. This retrospective study used a patient database at a national weight management service.

Procedural considerations for photographic-based joint angle measurements.

Background And Purpose: Measuring static joint angles is important to clinicians involved in assessing, diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders. New measurement techniques such as the Uillinn Method (UM) employ the relatively new technology of digital photography and software to form a virtual goniometer. It is of central importance that the errors associated such new measurement techniques are known.