Blog #12- Easy on those Knees

Kerris McKoy
4/18/2011
12:42AM

Studies show that obesity can be a risk factor of arthritis. Being overweight doubles a person’s risk for osteoarthritis of the knees. Dr. Weiya Zhang, one of the review's authors from the University of Nottingham in the UK explains, "It’s very challenging for doctors to treat this disease. Therefore prevention of this disease becomes very important.” Weight loss is the main prevention of avoiding the risks. The researchers calculated that as many as half of all cases of knee osteoarthritis could be prevented if obesity was eliminated. Zhang and his colleagues reviewed 47 studies that compared the chance of developing knee osteoarthritis in normal weight, overweight, and obese people, including a total of almost 450,000 participants. The results of the study were that one in ten people over age 55 have severe knee arthritis. Also, there are many more people who suffer from chronic knee pain. Arthritis occurs when cartilage around the joint begins to break down, causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness. It is commonly treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, but many people continue having symptoms despite treatment. People who were overweight were about twice as likely to get knee osteoarthritis as people of normal weight. For obese people, the risk was almost 4 times higher. Even though this information has been observed through research, this cannot prove definitely that being obese/overweight causes arthritis. But based from the results of the study, there is a clear view of the correlation between the two. Extra weight can lead to the knee falling apart, because the knees don’t deal well with extra weight. But people should keep in mind that being obese/overweight is not the only risk of developing arthritis. Jobs that consist of steady movement whether involving lifting, carrying, hast movement of the fingers, etc are at risk of arthritis as well. Thus saying it is important to maintain a healthy weight, and be conscious of body movement.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/15/us-weight-arthritis-idUSTRE73E4C520110415?pageNumber=1