Lose weight to avoid osteoarthritis

October 19, 10:59 AMHealth and Science ExaminerP. Elizabeth Anderson

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The holidays are upon us. Time to eat, drink, be merry—we almost all gain a few pounds. Aren’t you dreading the assault of food already?

This news isn’t going to thrill you, but it will provide additional ammunition for staving off the pounds: Losing even a little weight could reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis in your knees.

People who are overweight and lose just 5 percent of their weight are less likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee (knee OA) compared to people who gain weight, according researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Much is said about how weight gain and obesity affect heart disease and diabetes, but not so much about arthritis. Yet, OA is painful and debilitating. Treatments are limited and no cure exists.

OA, the most common joint disease of middle-aged and older people, affecting more than 27 million Americans. It causes progressive damage to the joint cartilage and changes in the structures around the joint, which can include fluid accumulation, bony overgrowth and loosening and weakness of muscles and tendons, all of which may limit movement and cause pain and swelling.  OUCH!

OA affects overall quality of life, interfering with everything from quality of sleep to the ability to sit, stand, or walk without pain or discomfort.

For more info:  What is osteoarthritis?

Source: University of North Carolina School of Medicine