Relationship between Body Mass Index and Occupation with Low Back Pain

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and occupation with low back pain (LBP) incidence in Zainoel Abidin Hospital. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to include 237 patients with LBP selected from a population of 618 at the Neurology Polyclinic, Zainoel Abidin Hospital. Data were collected using the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SFMPQ) and analyzed descriptively to assess pain characteristics and intensity among participants. The chi-square test was used to identify correlations between key variables. RESULTS: Comprehensive results were obtained. 58.7% of the samples had a thin/normal BMI, 57.4% had an occupation background of self-employed/retired/housewives, and 87.8% experienced mild pain. This study showed a relationship between BMI and LBP (p = 0.009) and no relationship between occupation and LBP (p = 0.129). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate a significant relationship between BMI and the incidence of LBP, while no significant association was found between occupation type and LBP among patients at Zainoel Abidin Hospital. Workers are encouraged to maintain a healthy BMI and practice proper workplace ergonomics to reduce LBP risk, especially for physically demanding roles.