According to an article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (JAAOS), weight loss can prevent and treat symptoms of osteoarthritis, a painful, progressive and debilitating bone and joint disease.
Obesity is the causative factor that set off several inflammatory and biomechanical changes. The disease causing mechanisms lead to pain, restricted, or loss of mobility and osteoarthritis, the authors wrote in the publication.
A clear association between osteoarthritis and obesity has been unearthed, and links are based on systemic and biomechanical factors, said Dr. Ryan Koonce, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, Skagit Regional Clinics, Mt. Vermon, USA. Of the two factors, systemic factor was found to be significant.
The researchers tabled some of the key research findings:
· Obesity and progressive increase in body weight directly affects the knee joints due to wear and tears.
· Obesity is an independent risk factor for pain in soft tissues such as tendons that bears the whole body weight.
· Obesity is a key risk factor for metabolic syndromes, inflammatory diseases, hypertension and insulin-resistance induced diabetes mellitus.
· White Adipose Tissue (WAT) is a powerful triggering factor of inflammatory reaction in the body. In obese individuals, the amount of WAT is very high than the thin-built individuals.
· Planned weight loss can prevent and treat pain in osteoarthritis patients and thereby improve mobility and quality of life.
The healthcare providers should be aware of the different causes and treatment procedures of obesity-induced osteoarthritis, said Dr. Jonathan Bravman, Assistant Professor of Orthopedics, University of Colorado. The option of weight loss is being underutilized as a key treatment option for osteoarthritis and joint pain, he added.
In United States, nearly 50% of osteoarthritis cases could be prevented if obesity is treated by weight loss programmes, the authors concluded.
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