I think there is a "Bad Back Thread" somewhere
on this forum.

I once had a Phillipina X ray Tech tell me

"1 pound on the belly = 10 on the back"


Don't mean to get all preachy but that little girl was right!

I think you are right Kaf,extra weight in the front causes the back to ache,Ask any woman thats been pregnant.

I have always had problems with my L5,Thats what got me in the gym about 20 years ago.My standard M.O. was chiropractor about 3-4 times a month for sublaxations before I put on the ''big'' belly.I used to do a lot of stomach and lower back exercises,still the same amount of problems persisted,but my shape sure improved!
Since gaining the big belly,I have not had to make a trip to the Chiropractors.Almost 3 years!My back aches a lot more,but no more slipped disks.Something physical has happened .I don't know what.Maybe some kind of ''balance''.

The problem is the fat,cholesterol damage internally.Probably more important than the back problems(Although when it goes out,nothing is more important).Also I am experiencing edema in my feet which is completely new to me.So,I need to get the weight off!

Yes there is a bad back thread and a very lengthy one as I recall

In the health section:

New Home for the Bad Back guys

One other consideration with bad backs that has nothing to do with added weight is stenosis of the lower spine -- this is a narrowing of the spinal column. My ex is a tennis pro; he's tall and quite thin but has really beaten up his body after 35 years of heavy duty tennis. Couldn't understand why his back was OK as long as he was moving but had pain set in when he was standing for teaching and coaching. Found out it was stenosis. Part of it is simply aging, but if you're having numbness or pain down into your legs, it might not be weight-related.

Good point Shara...
Especially around the L5 / S1 region.
Can be detected by MRI scan, or sometimes a good quality Xray.

worth checking out