Dr. Austin Davis explains why you’ve got excess weight around your middle, and how it could be negatively affecting your back.
DEAR DR. AUSTIN: Is there a reason I tend to gain all my weight in my stomach and it’s hard as a rock? And how does that weight being centralized affect my back? — DOUG Z.
DEAR DOUG Z.: People tend to gain weight in specific areas due to their diets. If you are gaining weight in the midsection and it’s rock hard, chances are that your protein intake is through the roof. It’s important to avoid excessive proteins, fats and salts. It’s also time to start introducing an abundance of leafy greens, veggies and fruits that are low in water and sugar into your diet. As for how the weight in your stomach can affect your back, well, the impact can be huge. If you are carrying 20, 30, or even 40 extra pounds in front of you, it can increase the curvature of the low back, called a hyper lordosis, affecting function and stability.
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