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Project

Weight Loss Intervention in Overweight/Obese People Suffering from Chronic Low Back Pain: an International Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial (WEAVE) (FWOAL1055)

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the most expensive cause of workrelated disability: it causes the highest number of years lived with
disability. The most severe and debilitated CLBP patients often have
comorbidities such as overweight and obesity. Despite the growing
body of scientific literature pointing towards the close interaction
between overweight/obesity and CLBP, few treatment programs for
people with CLBP nowadays take overweight into account. Therefore
we propose studying the added value of a behavioral weight
reduction program (changes in diet, behavior and physical exercise)
to current best evidence rehabilitation (pain neuroscience education
plus cognition-targeted exercise therapy) for overweight or obese
people with CLBP. An international, multicenter randomized
controlled trial comparing a behavioral weight reduction program
combined with pain neuroscience education and cognition-targeted
exercise therapy versus pain neuroscience education and cognitiontargeted exercise therapy alone, will be conducted. The primary
outcome is pain and the primary endpoint was chosen at 12 months
follow-up; secondary outcomes include health care use and daily
functioning. If the promising results of the proof of concept study are
corroborated, the new intervention will have a high socio-economic
impact, including an annual health care cost reduction of €66 million
in Switzerland, and €60 million in Flanders, and is expected to
increase life expectancy in the long term.
Date:1 Jan 2022 →  Today
Keywords:overweight, behavioural treatment, exercise, back pain
Disciplines:Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation