Weight Loss Helping with Osteoarthritis
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, new studies have shown that people can reduce their risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA) and can reduce the risk that the condition will get worse if it is already present. Osteoarthritis is a condition where the cartilage at the ends of bones breaks down, so the bones can rub against each other.
At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researcher Jennifer Hootman:
“Keeping a healthy weight your entire life, and avoiding injuries to the joints such as occupation- or sport and recreation-related injuries can help lower your risk of getting osteoarthritis.”
Hootman says people who have osteoarthritis have the opportunity to manage their symptoms. And she states physical activity – things like walking, cycling or swimming – can reduce the pain caused by this disease. She also says weight training can strengthen muscle around joints.
Data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES I) indicated that obese women had nearly 4 times the risk of knee osteoarthritis as compared with non-obese women; for obese men, the risk was nearly 5 times greater.
In a study from Framingham MA, Felson and colleagues found that even small amounts of weight loss reduced the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. They found, for a woman of normal height, every 11 lbs. of weight lost, the risk of knee OA dropped > 50%. They found similar statistics in overweight men with osteoarthritis.
Several studies have discovered that weight loss greatly reduced reports of pain as well. Therefore, weight loss potentially offers an important modifiable factor in the behavioral treatment of knee OA.
Heal n Cure’s Medical Weight Loss Program focuses on weight loss through lifestyle change. Our preventative methods help our patients avoid the development of conditions that are associated with excess weight, as well as help reverse chronic conditions that are already present. Through our weight loss program, patients have gained relief from crippling symptoms that have plagued them for years. Whether you seek to ease pain from arthritis or eliminate shortness of breath when walking, at Heal n Cure you will find all the encouragement and guidance you will need to reach your health and wellness goals.
References:
HHS
Hopkins Artheritis
