A healthy diet may do more than promote general wellness—it could significantly reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain, according to a new study published in the European Journal of Nutrition. Conducted by researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA), the study found that improving diet quality over just three months led to reduced joint and muscle pain, independent of weight loss.
The research involved 104 Australian adults living with overweight or obesity, all of whom participated in a weight-loss trial. Over 12 weeks, participants followed a diet aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, reducing their energy intake by approximately 30%. The intervention focused on increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, while cutting back on discretionary foods and alcohol.
Participants improved their diet quality by 22% and reported a significant reduction in chronic musculoskeletal pain—from 50% of participants experiencing it at the start to just 24% by the end. Pain severity and quality of life related to pain also improved. While most participants lost an average of seven kilograms, researchers found that the reduced pain severity was directly linked to improvements in diet quality, regardless of weight or body fat changes.
Lead researcher and PhD candidate Sue Ward explained that the findings challenge the common belief that weight loss is the primary driver behind pain relief. “Chronic musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common and debilitating conditions worldwide. While excess weight is often thought to put stress on joints and drive pain, our study shows that what you eat may independently influence chronic pain,” Ward said.
“While weight loss helps many people, this study suggests that improving diet quality itself also eases the severity of people’s pain. This is a very hopeful finding for people living with chronic pain.”
The researchers say more studies are needed, but their work adds to growing evidence that nutrition plays a central role in both physical and mental health.
Reference: Ward, S.J., Coates, A.M., Carter, S. et al. Exploring the role of diet quality and adiposity in the pain experience: a mediation analysis. Eur J Nutr 64, 266 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-025-03772-0
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