Thenmozhi R¹
Suba A²

¹Professor and Head,
²Post Graduate,
Departmentof Physiology
Tirunelveli Medical College
Tirunelveli – 627001
Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

• Background: The World Health Organisation(WHO) labelled obesity as obviously visible, but most neglected public health concern. Consumption of junk food, sedentary lifeand lack of physical exercise are the main factors causing a tremendous rise in incidence of obesity. Obesity is associated with many systemic diseases like Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, peripheral neuropathy etc., among theseperipheral neuropathies is the most neglected complication. Obesity is an independent risk factor that influences prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, this study is aimed at studying the effect of obesity on nerve conduction.
• Aim: To assess the effect of obesity on nerve conduction parameters of median and ulnar nerves in obese cases and controls.
• Materials and Methods: 100 healthy individuals, among them 50 had BMI (Body Mass Index) < 25 (controls) and 50 had BMI >25 (cases), were recruited for the study. The Latency(ms), nerve conduction velocity (m/s) and amplitude of median and ulnar nerves recorded and compared between obese and non-obese.
• Results: There was a significant increase in latency, reduction in amplitude and no change in conduction of velocity in obese individuals compared to non-obese individuals.
• Conclusion: The results show that obesity causes significant alteration in nerve conduction parameters indicating early signs of subclinical neuropathy. Hence early screening and lifestyle changes may be recommended to prevent neuropathy.

Keywords: , obesity, peripheral neuropathy