Fibromyalgia risk is increased by Obesity

FibromyalgiaObesity increased the risk for fibromyalgia, but exercise decreased fibromyalgia risk, researchers in Norway have said.

Women who reported exercising four times per week had a 29 percent lower risk of fibromyalgia compared with inactive women, study leader Paul Mork of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim have found.

Mork said in a statement, "Similar results were found in the analysis of the summary score combining information on frequency, duration and intensity of exercise; women with the highest exercise level had a somewhat lower risk than inactive women."

Mork and colleagues based the study on data collected from the Nord-Trondelag Health Study, the first part conducted in 1984 and the second part in 1995. In the 11 years between, 380 new cases of fibromyalgia were reported among the 15,990 women participants.

Published in Arthritis Care & Research, the study also found being overweight or obese a strong and independent risk factor for future development of fibromyalgia.

The study further said that being overweight or obese and inactive -- pointed to a further disadvantage than being overweight or obese alone. (With Inputs from Agencies)