ArticlePain reports
Pain sensitivity does not differ between obese and healthy weight individuals.
Article in Pain reports. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Risk of Acute Pain in Obese Patients Undergoing Atrial Fibrillation Ablation.Journal of pain research · 2025Article
- The Experimental Pain Experienced in a Cold Pressor Task Is Influenced by Hemoglobin Levels in Young Adult Females.Cureus · 2024Article
- Weak Relationships Between Psychological Factors and Experimental Pain Outcomes in Pain-Free Individuals: An Aggregate Analysis of 8 Studies.The journal of pain · 2024Article
- Metabolic underpinnings of cancer-related fatigue.American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2024Review
- Individual Factors Modifying Postoperative Pain Management in Elective Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement Surgery.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Article
- Worst Pain Severity Profiles of Oncology Patients Are Associated With Significant Stress and Multiple Co-Occurring Symptoms.The journal of pain · 2022Article
- Physiological Changes and Pathological Pain Associated with Sedentary Lifestyle-Induced Body Systems Fat Accumulation and Their Modulation by Physical Exercise.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThere is emerging evidence suggesting a relationship between obesity and chronic pain.
objectivesThe aim of this study was to determine whether pain-free obese individuals display altered pain responses to acute noxious stimuli, thus raising the possibility of greater pain sensitivity and potential susceptibility for chronic pain development.
methodsPsychophysical and anthropometric data were collected from 38 individuals with an obese body mass index (BMI) classification (BMI ≥ 30) and 41 age/sex-matched individuals of a healthy BMI (BMI < 24.9). Because BMI may be an inaccurate index of obesity, additional anthropometric parameters of central adiposity and percent body fat were examined. Pain responses to suprathreshold noxious heat and cold stimuli were examined. Subjects provided pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings to noxious heat (49°C) applied at varying durations and locations (ventral forearm/lower leg). Cold pain ratings, thresholds, and tolerances were obtained after immersion of the hand in a cold-water bath (0-2°C). Between-group differences in pain responses, as well as relationships between pain responses and obesity parameters, were examined. Importantly, confounds that may influence pain such as anxiety, depression, impulsivity, sleepiness, and quality of life were assessed.
resultsNo between-group differences in pain sensitivity to noxious heat and cold stimuli were found. No relationships were found between central adiposity or body fat (percentage or distribution) and pain responses to noxious heat or cold stimuli.
conclusionsObesity has minimal influence on pain sensitivity. Accordingly, it is unlikely that obesity alone increases susceptibility for chronic pain development through amplification of nociceptive processes.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.