These ranges, which were revised and updated in 1995, are presented in the Optimal Weight/Height Table below. One method that offers general guidelines is to determine whether a patient’s weight falls into the “healthy weight ranges” currently recommended for adults. Determining whether a patient would benefit from weight loss involves making some informed decisions. Would My OA Patient Benefit from Losing Weight? Thus, weight loss potentially offers an important modifiable factor in the behavioral treatment of knee OA. A handful of studies have indicated that weight loss substantially reduced reports of pain as well. Similar changes in weight category by women would result in a 33% decrease in knee OA. The investigators concluded that in elderly persons, if obese men (i.e., BMI greater than 30) lost enough weight to fall into the overweight category (BMI 26-29.9) and men in the overweight category lost enough weight to move into the normal weight category (BMI less than 26), knee OA would decrease by 21.5%. Conversely, a comparable weight gain was associated with an increased risk of later developing knee OA (odds ratio 1.28 for a 2 BMI weight gain). 10) For a woman of normal height, for every 11 lb weight loss (approximately 2 BMI units), the risk of knee OA dropped > 50%. If obesity increases the development and progression of knee OA, can weight loss reverse these effects? In the Framingham study, Felson and colleagues noted that among women with a baseline body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 25, weight loss was associated with a significantly lower risk of knee OA. Preliminary studies suggest weight loss decreases pain substantially in those with knee OA. 5) The Benefits of Weight LossĮven small amounts of weight loss reduce the risk of developing knee OA. 8 and 9) It is estimated that persons in the highest quintile of body weight have up to 10 times the risk of knee OA than those in the lowest quintile. 7) Other investigations, which performed repeated x-rays over time also, have found that being overweight significantly increases the risk of developing knee OA. 6) In a study from Framingham MA, overweight individuals in their thirties who did not have knee OA were at greater risk of later developing the disease. Data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES I) indicated that obese women had nearly 4 times the risk of knee OA as compared with non-obese women for obese men, the risk was nearly 5 times greater. Estimating prevalence across populations is difficult since definitions for obesity and knee OA vary among investigators. Population-based studies have consistently shown a link between overweight or obesity and knee OA. Overweight women have nearly 4 times the risk of knee OA for overweight men the risk is 5 times greater.īeing overweight is a clear risk factor for developing OA. 5) Obesity Is a Risk Factor for Osteoarthritis 3 and 4) suggesting the involvement of a circulating systemic factor as well. 2) However, overweight has also been associated with higher rates of hand OA in some studies ( refs. 1) For example, it is estimated that a force of nearly three to six times one’s body weight is exerted across the knee while walking an increase in body weight increases the force by this amount. Clearly, being overweight increases the load placed on the joints such as the knee, which increases stress and could possibly hasten the breakdown of cartilage. It is unclear exactly how excess weight influences OA. Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder with symptoms in the hands, knees, hips, back, and neck. Joint Pain is Strongly Associated with Body Weightīeing only 10 pounds overweight increases the force on the knee by 30-60 pounds with each step. For More Information About Safe and Effective Methods of Weight Loss.What if My Patient Is Not Willing to Lose Weight?.How Can I Help My Patients to Manage Their Weight More Effectively?.Would My OA Patient Benefit from Losing Weight?.Obesity Is a Risk Factor for Osteoarthritis.Joint Pain is Strongly Associated with Body Weight.

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