Cited by 155Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ResearchMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationPsychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 65 of the 66 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Fibromyalgia and obesity: the hidden link

Ursini, Francesco, Naty, Saverio, Grembiale, Rosa Daniela·2011·Rheumatology International

DOI 10.1007/s00296-011-1885-z

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder of uncertain etiology, characterized by widespread pain, muscle tenderness, and decreased pain threshold to pressure and other stimuli. Obesity is a well-known aggravating factor for certain rheumatologic conditions, such as knee osteoarthritis. Emerging evidences are exploring the link between obesity and other rheumatic diseases, such as fibromyalgia. Epidemiological data show that fibromyalgia patients have higher prevalence of obesity (40%) and overweight (30%) in multiple studies compared with healthy patients. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain "the hidden link", but at this time is not possible to ascertain whether obesity is cause or consequence of fibromyalgia. Among mechanisms proposed, there are the following: impaired physical activity, cognitive and sleep disturbances, psychiatric comorbidity and depression, dysfunction of thyroid gland, dysfunction of the GH/IGF-1 axis, impairment of the endogenous opioid system. In this article, we review the scientific evidence supporting a possible link between obesity and fibromyalgia, how obesity influences fibromyalgia symptoms and how fibromyalgia severity can be improved by weight loss. In addition, we analyze the possible mechanisms by which fibromyalgia and obesity interrelate.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s00296-011-1885-z

Cites

65 of 65 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

The american college of rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia
Wolfe, F., Smythe, H. A., Yunus, M. B., Bennett, R. M., Bombardier, C., Goldenberg, D. L., Tugwell, P., Campbell, S. M., Abeles, M., Clark, P., et al. (1990) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.1780330203 · Cited by 9,563
Descending control of pain
Millan, M. J. (2002) · Progress in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/s0301-0082(02)00009-6 · Cited by 3,035
Endogenous Pain Control Systems: Brainstem Spinal Pathways and Endorphin Circuitry
Basbaum, A. I., & Fields, H. L. (1984) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.ne.07.030184.001521 · Cited by 2,687
The prevalence and characteristics of fibromyalgia in the general population
Wolfe, F., Ross, K., Anderson, J., Russell, I. J., & Hebert, L. E. (1995) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.1780380104 · Cited by 2,425
Cytokine Mechanisms of Central Sensitization: Distinct and Overlapping Role of Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Regulating Synaptic and Neuronal Activity in the Superficial Spinal Cord
Kawasaki, Y., Zhang, L., Cheng, J.-K., & Ji, R.-R. (2008) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3338-07.2008 · Cited by 1,162
Weight Loss Reduces the Risk for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis in Women
Felson, D. T., Zhang, Y., Anthony, J. M., Naimark, A., & Anderson, J. J. (1992) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-116-7-535 · Cited by 928
An internet survey of 2,596 people with fibromyalgia
Bennett, R. M., Jones, J., Turk, D. C., Russell, I. J., & Matallana, L. (2007) · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · doi:10.1186/1471-2474-8-27 · Cited by 865
Cerebrospinal fluid biogenic amine metabolites in fibromyalgia/fibrositis syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis
Russell, I. J., Værøy, H., Javors, M. A., & Nyberg, F. (1992) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.1780350509 · Cited by 546
Family study of fibromyalgia
Arnold, L. M., Hudson, J. I., Hess, E. V., Ware, A. E., Fritz, D. A., Auchenbach, M. B., Starck, L. O., & Keck, P. E. (2004) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.20042 · Cited by 454
An evaluation of gender, obesity, age and diabetes mellitus as risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome
Becker, J., Nora, D. B., Gomes, I., Stringari, F. F., Seitensus, R., Panosso, J. S., & Ehlers, J. A. (2002) · Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/s1388-2457(02)00201-8 · Cited by 395
Comorbidity of Fibromyalgia and Psychiatric Disorders
Arnold, L. M., Hudson, J. I., Keck, P. E., Auchenbach, M. B., Javaras, K. N., & Hess, E. V. (2006) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.v67n0807 · Cited by 382
Epidemiology, co-morbidity, and impact on health-related quality of life of self-reported headache and musculoskeletal pain--a gender perspective
Bingefors, K., & Isacson, D. (2004) · European Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.ejpain.2004.01.005 · Cited by 380
Weight loss: the treatment of choice for knee osteoarthritis? A randomized trial
Christensen, R., Astrup, A. V., & Bliddal, H. (2004) · Osteoarthritis and Cartilage · doi:10.1016/j.joca.2004.10.008 · Cited by 340
Risk Factors in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Geoghegan, J. M., Clark, D., Bainbridge, L. C., Smith, C. J., & Hubbard, R. (2004) · Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) · doi:10.1016/j.jhsb.2004.02.009 · Cited by 323
Musculoskeletal pain in the obese: a comparison with a general population and long-term changes after conventional and surgical obesity treatment
Peltonen, M., Lindroos, A. K., & Torgerson, J. (2003) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(03)00091-5 · Cited by 281
Platelet 3H-imipramine uptake receptor density and serum serotonin levels in patients with fibromyalgia/fibrositis syndrome.
Russell, I. J., Michalek, J. E., Vipraio, G. A., Fletcher, E. M., Javors, M. A., & Bowden, C. L. (1992) · PubMed · Cited by 258
Obesity as a Risk Factor for Osteoarthritis of the Hand and Wrist: A Prospective Study
Carman, W. J., Sowers, M., Hawthorne, V. M., & Weissfeld, L. A. (1994) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116974 · Cited by 258
Low levels of somatomedin C in patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome. A possible link between sleep and muscle pain
Bennett, R. M., Clark, S. R., Campbell, S. M., & Burckhardt, C. S. (1992) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.1780351002 · Cited by 236
Musculoskeletal findings in obese subjects before and after weight loss following bariatric surgery
Hooper, M., Stellato, T. A., Hallowell, P. T., Seitz, B., & Moskowitz, R. W. (2006) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803349 · Cited by 223
Cytokine patterns in fibromyalgia and their correlation with clinical manifestations.
Bazzichi, L., Rossi, A., Massimetti, G., Giannaccini, G., Giuliano, T., Feo, F. D., Ciapparelli, A., Dell’Osso, L., & Bombardieri, S. (2007) · PubMed · Cited by 211
Psychosocial Factors in Fibromyalgia Compared With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Walker, E. A., Keegan, D. A., Gardner, G. C., Sullivan, M., Katon, W. J., & Bernstein, D. P. (1997) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-199711000-00002 · Cited by 204
The prevalence of low back pain and associations with body fatness, fat distribution and height
Han, T. S., Schouten, J., Lean, M., & Seidell, J. C. (1997) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0800448 · Cited by 201
Obesity and Related Diseases
Garrow, J. S. (1988) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 199
Plasma tryptophan and other amino acids in primary fibromyalgia: a controlled study.
Yunus, M. B., Dailey, J. W., Aldag, J. C., Masi, A. T., & Jobe, P. C. (1992) · PubMed · Cited by 194
Relationship Between Fibromyalgia and Obesity in Pain, Function, Mood, and Sleep
Okifuji, A., Donaldson, G. W., Barck, L., & Fine, P. G. (2010) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2010.03.006 · Cited by 192
Relationship between body mass index and fibromyalgia features
Yunus, M. B., Arslan, Ş., & Aldag, J. C. (2002) · Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology · doi:10.1080/030097402317255336 · Cited by 173
Association between physical exercise, body mass index, and risk of fibromyalgia: Longitudinal data from the Norwegian Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study
Mork, P. J., Vasseljen, O., & Nilsen, T. I. L. (2010) · Arthritis Care & Research · doi:10.1002/acr.20118 · Cited by 172
Role of interleukin-6 in chronic muscle hyperalgesic priming
Dina, O. A., Green, P. G., & Levine, J. D. (2008) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.01.006 · Cited by 164
The projections of noradrenergic neurons in the A5 catecholamine cell group to the spinal cord in the rat: anatomical evidence that A5 neurons modulate nociception
Clark, F. M., & Proudfit, H. K. (1993) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(93)90210-e · Cited by 161
A cross-sectional study of the relationship between body mass index and clinical characteristics, tenderness measures, quality of life, and physical functioning in fibromyalgia patients
Neumann, L., Lerner, E., Glazer, Y., Bolotin, A., Shefer, A., & Buskila, D. (2008) · Clinical Rheumatology · doi:10.1007/s10067-008-0966-1 · Cited by 155
Hypothalamic-pituitary-insulin-like growth factor-I axis dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia.
Bennett, R. M., Cook, D. M., Clark, S. R., Burckhardt, C. S., & Campbell, S. M. (1997) · PubMed · Cited by 154
Evaluating obesity in fibromyalgia: neuroendocrine biomarkers, symptoms, and functions
Okifuji, A., Bradshaw, D. H., & Olson, C. (2009) · Clinical Rheumatology · doi:10.1007/s10067-009-1094-2 · Cited by 146
Testing an instrument to screen for fibromyalgia syndrome in general population studies: the London Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study Screening Questionnaire.
White, K. P., Harth, M., Speechley, M. R., & Østbye, T. (1999) · PubMed · Cited by 138
Knee osteoarthritis and body mass index: a population‐based case–control study
Holmberg, S., Thelin, A. G., & Thelin, N. (2005) · Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology · doi:10.1080/03009740510017922 · Cited by 125
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIBROMYALGIA AND MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
Hudson, J. I., & Pope, H. G. (1996) · Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/s0889-857x(05)70273-8 · Cited by 122
Relationship of substance P, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and tryptophan in serum of fibromyalgia patients
Schwarz, M. J., Späth, M., Müller-Bardorff, H., Pongratz, D. E., Bondy, B., & Ackenheil, M. (1999) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/s0304-3940(98)00937-9 · Cited by 121
Pain, functional disability, and psychological status: a 12-month study of severity in fibromyalgia.
Hawley, D. J., Wolfe, F., & Cathey, M. A. (1988) · PubMed · Cited by 119
Longterm Effects of Fibromyalgia on Everyday Life: A Study of 56 Patients
Henriksson, C. M. (1994) · Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology · doi:10.3109/03009749409102133 · Cited by 116
A pilot study of the effects of behavioral weight loss treatment on fibromyalgia symptoms
Shapiro, J. R., Anderson, D. A., & Danoff‐Burg, S. (2005) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2005.06.081 · Cited by 110
Circulating cytokine levels compared to pain in patients with fibromyalgia -- a prospective longitudinal study over 6 months.
Wang, H., Moser, M., Schiltenwolf, M., & Buchner, M. (2008) · PubMed · Cited by 108
Secretory pattern of GH, TSH, thyroid hormones, ACTH, cortisol, FSH, and LH in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome following systemic injection of the relevant hypothalamic-releasing hormones
Riedel, W., Layka, H., & Neeck, G. (1998) · Zeitschrift für Rheumatologie · doi:10.1007/s003930050242 · Cited by 106
Gender-specific differences in a patient population with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome
Wahner‐Roedler, D. L., Olson, E. J., Narayanan, S., Sood, R., Hanson, A. C., Loehrer, L. L., & Sood, A. (2007) · Gender Medicine · doi:10.1016/s1550-8579(07)80062-3 · Cited by 103
Thyroid function in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.
Neeck, G., & Riedel, W. (1992) · PubMed · Cited by 102
A case-control study of obesity as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome in a population of 600 patients presenting for independent medical examination
Stallings, S. P., Kasdan, M. L., Soergel, T. M., & Corwin, H. M. (1997) · The Journal Of Hand Surgery · doi:10.1016/s0363-5023(97)80153-0 · Cited by 102
Impaired growth hormone secretion in fibromyalgia patients: Evidence for augmented hypothalamic somatostatin tone
Paiva, E. S., Deodhar, A. A., Jones, K. D., & Bennett, R. M. (2002) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.10209 · Cited by 98
The GH/IGF-I axis in obesity: influence of neuroendocrine and metabolic factors
Maccario, M., Grottoli, S., Massimo, P., Oleandri, S. E., Rossetto, R., Gauna, C., Arvat, E., & Ghigo, E. (2000) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0801289 · Cited by 87
Gender Differences in the Association between Sleep Duration and Body Composition: The Cardia Study
St‐Onge, M., Perumean‐Chaney, S. E., Desmond, R. A., Lewis, C. E., Yan, L. L., Person, S. D., & Allison, D. B. (2009) · International Journal of Endocrinology · doi:10.1155/2010/726071 · Cited by 81
Association between thyroid autoimmunity and fibromyalgic disease severity
Bazzichi, L. M., Rossi, A., Giuliano, T., Feo, F. D., Giacomelli, C., Consensi, A., Ciapparelli, A., Consoli, G., Dell’Osso, L., & Bombardieri, S. (2007) · Clinical Rheumatology · doi:10.1007/s10067-007-0636-8 · Cited by 79
Frequency of rheumatic diseases in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease
Soy, M., Güldiken, S., Arıkan, E., Altun, B. U., & Tuğrul, A. (2006) · Rheumatology International · doi:10.1007/s00296-006-0263-8 · Cited by 71
The Impact of Increased Body Mass Index on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Chaiamnuay, S., Bertoli, A. M., Fernández, M., Apte, M., Vilá, L. M., Reveille, J. D., & Alarcón, G. S. (2007) · JCR Journal of Clinical Rheumatology · doi:10.1097/rhu.0b013e3180645865 · Cited by 69
Nociception and opioid-induced analgesia in lean (Fa/−) and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats
Roane, D. S., & Porter, J. R. (1986) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(86)90156-3 · Cited by 59
Pain sensitivity in dietary-induced obese rats
Ramzan, I. M., Wong, B. K., & Corcoran, G. B. (1993) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(93)90231-4 · Cited by 51
Effects of central and peripheral administration of leptin on pain threshold in rats and mice.
Kutlu, S., Canpolat, S., Sandal, S., Özcan, M., Sarsılmaz, M., & Keleştimur, H. (2003) · PubMed · Cited by 50
Interrelations between fibromyalgia, thyroid autoantibodies, and depression.
Ribeiro, L. S., & Proietti, F. A. (2004) · PubMed · Cited by 49
Association of obesity with mood and anxiety disorders in the adult general population
Gadalla, T. M. (2009) · Chronic diseases and injuries in Canada · doi:10.24095/hpcdp.30.1.06 · Cited by 47
Pain sensitivity in obesity.
Zahorska‐Markiewicz, B., Zych, P., & Kucio, C. (1988) · PubMed · Cited by 45
The Effect of Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on Fibromyalgia
Saber, A. A., Boros, M. J., Mancl, T., Elgamal, M. H., Song, S., & Wisadrattanapong, T. (2008) · Obesity Surgery · doi:10.1007/s11695-008-9505-z · Cited by 43
Evaluation of General Psychopathology, Subjective Sleep Quality, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Obesity
Algül, A., Ateş, M. A., Semiz, Ü. B., Başoğlu, C., Ebrinç, S., Geçici, Ö., Gülsün, M., Kardeşoğlu, E., & Çetin, M. (2009) · The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine · doi:10.2190/pm.39.3.f · Cited by 41
Growth hormone as concomitant treatment in severe fibromyalgia associated with low IGF-1 serum levels. A pilot study
Cuatrecasas, G., Riudavets, C., Güell, M. A., & Nadal, A. (2007) · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · doi:10.1186/1471-2474-8-119 · Cited by 40
Pain thresholds in obese binge-eating disorder subjects
Raymond, N. C., de Zwaan, M., Faris, P. L., Nugent, S. M., Ackard, D. M., Crosby, R. D., & Mitchell, J. E. (1995) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0006-3223(94)00244-w · Cited by 39
Obesity and pain.
Zahorska‐Markiewicz, B., Kucio, C., & Pyszkowska, J. (1983) · PubMed · Cited by 35
Fibrositis and primary hypothyroidism.
Carette, S., & Lefrançois, L. (1988) · PubMed · Cited by 34
Female fibromyalgia patients: lower resting metabolic rates than matched healthy controls.
Lowe, J. C., Yellin, J., & Honeyman, G. S. (2006) · PubMed · Cited by 30
The Role of Sleep Dysfunction in Physical Inactivity and its Relationship to Obesity
Watenpaugh, D. E. (2009) · Current Sports Medicine Reports · doi:10.1249/jsr.0b013e3181c27834 · Cited by 29
ERRATUM
(2007) · JCR Journal of Clinical Rheumatology · doi:10.1097/rhu.0b013e31815ac6f4 · Cited by 10

Research works printed but not linked: 2

Hawley DJ, Wolfe F (1991) Pain, disability, and pain/disability relationships in seven rheumatic disorders: a study of 1, 522 patients. J Rheumatol 18:1552–1557
Brownell KD (1999) The LEARN Program for weight control, 7th edn. American Health Publishing, Dallas (Tex)

Sorted by citations

Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews
Geneen, L. J., Moore, R. A., Clarke, C., Martin, D., Colvin, L. A., & Smith, B. H. (2017) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd011279.pub3 · Cited by 1,222
Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews
Geneen, L. J., Moore, R. A., Clarke, C., Martin, D., Colvin, L. A., & Smith, B. H. (2017) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd011279.pub2 · Cited by 719
Psychological processing in chronic pain: a neural systems approach
Simons, L. E., Elman, I., & Borsook, D. (2014) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.12.006 · Cited by 359
Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review
Borchers, A. T., & Gershwin, M. E. (2015) · Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology · doi:10.1007/s12016-015-8509-4 · Cited by 279
Obesity and risk of incident psoriatic arthritis in US women
Li, W., Han, J., & Qureshi, A. A. (2012) · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases · doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-201273 · Cited by 233

See all 155

Authors: Ursini, F., Naty, S., & Grembiale, R. D.
Affiliations: Magna Graecia University (IT)
Corresponding author: Ursini, Francesco
ORCID: Ursini, Francesco
Grembiale, Rosa Daniela
Venue: Rheumatology International
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2011-04-08
Volume: 31
Issue: 11
Pages: 1403-1408
ISSN: 0172-8172 (ISSN-L)
1437-160X
DOI: 10.1007/s00296-011-1885-z
OpenAlex: W1979035382
Cited by: 155
References: 66
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 1.76
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Rheumatology International (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
Institutional Research Information System University of Ferrara (University of Ferrara) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
Keywords: fibromyalgia, obesity, overweight, weight loss, chronic widespread pain, sleep disorders, cognitive disorders, psychiatric comorbidity, depression, thyroid dysfunction, somatotropic axis, endogenous opioid system, pathogenesis
MeSH terms: Anxiety Disorders, Body Weight, Depression, Fibromyalgia, Health Status, Humans, Obesity, Weight Loss

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Fibromyalgia and obesity: the hidden link

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks