| Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder and | | | | protecting the joint from further damage and building |
| while it is still unclear how being overweight influences | | | | strength in the muscles that support the joint can often |
| this condition, studies show that excess weight is an | | | | improve joint function. |
| established risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knee, | | | | Losing Weight Can Support Your Joints and Reduce |
| causing a 3-4 fold increased risk of primary joint | | | | Pain |
| replacement. It is estimated that about 56% of obese | | | | Losing weight can be a challenge for many people, but |
| people suffer from major knee pain, in comparison to | | | | it may seem even more daunting when coping with |
| 15% of people who are not overweight. Studies also | | | | painful arthritis symptoms. However, losing excess |
| show that overweight people additionally stand a | | | | pounds can have a big impact on how you feel by |
| higher chance of developing hip and hand osteoarthritis. | | | | alleviating pressure placed on joints during physical |
| Does Excess Weight Accelerate the Breakdown of | | | | activity, plus possibly helping to reduce circulating |
| Cartilage? | | | | cytokines, which promote inflammation. Avoiding |
| It is certainly understood that excess weight increases | | | | particular motions or ignoring the pain will not make it |
| the load placed on the joints, thus increasing the stress | | | | go away and is likely to cause a rapid progress of |
| and possibly hastening the breakdown of cartilage. It | | | | symptoms. Limited movement will weaken the |
| was found that severely obese men were 15 times as | | | | muscles, compounding the joint problem, plus affect |
| likely to have torn cartilage, with severely obese | | | | your posture thus creating further difficulties. |
| women being 25 times as likely. Each step taken on | | | | Developing a program that is suited to your level of |
| level ground places 1 to 2 times the body weight on | | | | fitness and health is extremely important and can be |
| each knee, with the burden going up to 2 or 3 times as | | | | done with the support of a physician, physical therapist |
| much when going up and down stairs and 4 or 5 times | | | | or exercise physiologist. The right program can be a |
| as much when squatting. | | | | lasting way to reduce and control joint pain and may |
| Will Weight Loss Reduce the Risk of Osteoarthritis? | | | | even help delay or avoid the need for surgery. |
| Studies clearly show that enough weight loss reduces | | | | Eating a Healthy Diet to Lose Weight and Reduce |
| the rate of knee arthritis in both men and women, in | | | | Inflammation |
| addition to alleviating symptoms such as pain and | | | | Research shows a special link between food and the |
| stiffness. Each pound lost reduces knee pressure in | | | | symptoms of arthritis, with certain foods helping to |
| every step taken and one study found that the risk of | | | | control the destruction of joints and others helping to |
| developing osteoarthritis decreased by 50% with each | | | | relieve pain. An anti-osteoarthritis diet contains foods |
| eleven pound weight loss among younger obese | | | | filled with antioxidants and bioflavonoid as well as |
| women. Research also showed that knee | | | | foods high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Following a healthy |
| osteoarthritis would decrease by a fifth in older men | | | | diet by concentrating on lower-fat, nutrient-rich foods |
| who went from obese to just overweight, and by a | | | | and plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains |
| third in older women. While total joint replacement is an | | | | can help to reduce inflammation and maintain a |
| effective treatment for severe knee and hip | | | | balanced weight thus reducing strain on the joints. |
| osteoarthritis, reducing inflammation, relieving pain, | | | | |