Pediatric Pain and Obesity: Relationships and Initial Tool Validation

Objective: Pediatric obesity and pain are 2 of the more prevalent chronic health conditions in childhood. Recent research suggests a strong correlation between these conditions; however, more research is needed to clarify the nature of this relationship. Method: Youth (N = 103) between the ages of 7 and 19 who were undergoing evaluation in a pediatric obesity program were assessed for prevalence, location, and burden of pain. In addition, for those endorsing pain, its relationships to age, body mass index (BMI), BMI z score, mood, and eating behaviors were evaluated. Finally, the utility of a pain measure, The Pain Burden Interview, in a sample with obesity was examined. Results: Almost 75% of youth reported pain on entry into the obesity program with the most common areas of pain being headache, back pain, and knee pain. Almost 44% of these youth reported pain in more than one location. Pain burden over the previous month was similar to that seen in those youth with other pain conditions. There was no relationship seen between pain and age, BMI, or BMI z score. However, for those endorsing pain, increased pain burden scores were correlated with increased depressive symptoms, food addiction, and inattention scores. The Pain Burden Interview demonstrated evidence validity in this sample in identifying a population with unique needs that require further attention. Conclusions: Pain is a common comorbidity of youth with obesity. Providers should be assessing and tailoring interventions to manage these two conditions. Future research should evaluate treatment interventions for youth with obesity and pain.