For anyone new to this conversation high levels of Osteopontin have been implicated as the cause of Scoliosis. (Source)
The following study found that plasma levels of OPN increase during obesity.
Osteopontin mediates obesity-induced adipose tissue macrophage infiltration and insulin resistance in mice
Long story short being fat increases the amount of Osteopontin floating around in blood.
That makes this story all the more interesting,
Bracing Is Less Effective In Overweight Teens With Scoliosis
This story if from 2003 long before Osteopontin was on anyone's radar. If these scientists had been aware of OPN their conclusion might have been quite different.
The following study found that plasma levels of OPN increase during obesity.
Osteopontin mediates obesity-induced adipose tissue macrophage infiltration and insulin resistance in mice
we investigated the expression of OPN in adipose tissue and examined the role of OPN for macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue.
these results suggest that OPN plasma levels increase during obesity and that during DIO (Diet Induced Obesity) OPN mRNA is primarily expressed by ATMs accumulating in adipose tissue.
That makes this story all the more interesting,
Bracing Is Less Effective In Overweight Teens With Scoliosis
Almost half of all teens had a successful outcome following brace treatment, which researchers defined as no more than a five degree increase in the primary curve from brace initiation to discontinuation. However, among overweight patients, only 29 percent were treated successfully and 44 percent required surgery.
"It's possible that extra body fat, particularly around the abdomen, ribs, hips and lower back, hinder the brace's ability to transmit corrective forces to the spine, resulting in less curve correction," said Sponseller.
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