Osteoarthritis A Major Consequence Of Obesity Epidemic, Claims Charity In New Report

Main Category: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 22 Jul 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Obese people are four times as likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee as they are to develop high blood pressure or type-2 diabetes, according to a leading arthritis charity, launching a new online report on the subject. But whereas high blood pressure and diabetes may be substantially improved on losing weight and are relatively easy to control with therapy, the changes resulting from osteoarthritis are irreversible, as worn cartilage cannot currently be repaired.

However, according to Professor Alan Silman, medical director of the Arthritis Research Campaign, there is good news for the obese and overweight whose knees become painful due to osteoarthritis as a result of their weight.

"Research shows that losing weight, however modest, when combined with exercise, is a panacea at every stage," said Professor Silman.

"Achieving a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing the disease in the first place, relieves existing symptoms and helps to prevent further deterioration. And weight loss and exercise has been shown to achieve the same level of symptom relief as joint replacement surgery."

The medical research charity is concerned that while rising rates of obesity have been linked to a number of serious disorders and health concerns, the risk of potentially crippling osteoarthritis have been, if not ignored, then certainly under-estimated.

The true impact of obesity in the development of knee osteoarthritis has only recently become clear, said the charity, pointing to a study which revealed that at the most extreme, very obese people with a body mass index of 36 or more have a 14-fold higher risk of knee osteoarthritis compared to those in the healthy BMI range.

Professor Silman warned there was a real concern that unless rocketing rates of obesity were tackled, the numbers of people needing joint replacement surgery would soar, which would have a considerable impact on the NHS.

"There are two major risk factors for developing osteoarthritis - ageing and obesity - and as both these factors are on the rise in the UK, it's an obvious prediction to make that the outcome could be a massive cost to the health service," he added.

Joint replacements are more likely to fail earlier in obese patients, and the heavier the patients the less likely it is that surgery will bring about an improvement in symptoms.

Very obese women are 19 times more likely to need knee replacement and four times more likely to need hip replacement surgery compared to women of a healthy weight.

A series of studies have shown that even modest weight loss and exercise can help to reduce not only pain but also mobility and the ability to perform everyday activities.

Professor Silman's comments follow the publication of the charity's online report, Osteoarthritis and obesity, which warns the public of the hitherto little publicised dangers to their health and quality of life of obesity on their joints.

The Arthritis Research Campaign's report, Osteoarthritis and obesity, can be accessed on its website at http://www.arc.org.uk from July 15.

Source
Arthritis Research Campaign

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