Relationship between body mass index and fibromyalgia features

Objective: to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and features of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Methods: 211 female patients with FMS seen consecutively in our rheumatology clinic were analyzed. Spearman correlation was used. Further, FMS features were compared at different levels of BMI (kg/M-2). eg., < 25.00 vs greater than or equal to 25.00 (normal vs overweight). P value of less than or equal to 0.01 was accepted as significant. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between BMI and age (p < 0.001) and a negative correlation between BMI and education (p < 0.009). Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score was significantly correlated with BMI (p < 0.001), whereas fatigue and number of tender points (TP) showed a trend (p=0.035 and 0.037 respectively). Conclusion. The HAQ score is significantly associated with BMI in FMS with a trend towards significance for fatigue and TP. Weight loss may improve physical functioning in this disorder.