Osteoarthritis and obesity
Osteoarthritis is a condition that makes your joints feel stiff and painful. It's a type of arthritis that's caused by wear and tear of the joints. It commonly affects your hands, knees, hips and back.
To find out more, see our articles on osteoarthritis.
Here's what we know about the link between osteoarthritis and obesity:1 2 3
- You're more likely to get osteoarthritis if you're obese.4
- Extra weight puts pressure on your joints, especially in your knees, ankles and lower back. This can wear away the cushioning (cartilage) between the bones in your joints.
- Losing even a small amount of weight can ease the pressure on your joints and help you move around more easily. And you may find that you need less medication to cope with the pain in your joints.2
Sources for the information on this page:
- Gumbiner B (editor). Obesity. 3rd edition. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2001.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. Available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines (accessed 10 April 2008).
- Fairburn CG, Brownell KD. Eating disorders and obesity: a comprehensive handbook. 2nd edition. Psychology Press, London, UK; 2002.
- Aronne LJ. Epidemiology, morbidity, and treatment of overweight and obesity. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2001; 62: 13-22. 11603881
This information was last updated in Oct 27, 2008
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This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved. |
