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Staying active not only sends feel-good endorphins through your body, but also helps prevent obesity. Being overweight has long been linked to an array of health care issues, including diabetes and heart disease. It also increases your risk of orthopedic conditions, which affect the musculoskeletal system including osteoarthritis, low back pain, muscle aches, immobility and balance problems.  

Weight loss can help manage or even prevent joint-related problems. If you have a condition like osteoarthritis or lower back pain, understanding how your weight affects your joints can help motivate you to shed some of it. To help you stay healthy, here’s more information about the relationship between weight and orthopedic conditions. 

How Weight Affects Your Joints

For the purposes of discussing weight categories: BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measurement calculated using your weight and your height.  Healthy weight is considered a BMI of 18.5–24.9.  Overweight is considered a BMI of 25-29.9.  Obesity is considered a BMI of > 30.

When you walk or run, your ankles, hips, and knees absorb the impact on your legs. The more you weigh, the greater the pressure placed on these joints is. This can result in a premature breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the joints and prevents bones from rubbing against each another.

For this reason, obesity has been named the greatest modifiable risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), a condition characterized by wear and tear of the joints. People with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 are almost seven times more likely to develop OA than other individuals.

Why Weight Loss Is Recommended

weight lossStudies show that for every pound lost there is a 4 pound decrease in joint stress in knees with OA.  Weight loss is typically the first recommended step for those showing signs of OA, cartilage wear, back pain or other joint problems. A healthy calorie appropriate diet and exercising regularly are the most effective ways to do this. However, if you struggle to shed pounds on your own, a medically supervised comprehensive weight loss program may be a good option for you. 

Weight loss decreases the stress across your joints and can reduce pain and delay the need for joint replacement.  If your condition has already progressed to the point that you require joint replacement, it’s still important to lose weight. Undergoing an operation while overweight heightens the risk of surgical complications like increased blood loss and post-operative infection. Your surgery will also be more effective after weight loss, since that will ensure no added strain is placed on your replaced joint. 

 

Advanced Orthopaedic Associates of Wayne, NJ, has been serving Bergen, Passaic, and Morris counties with top-quality joint care for over 25 years. These orthopedic doctors take a personalized approach and create tailored programs to prevent recurrence of bone issues and minimize chronic pain. They offer many treatments based on your lifestyle needs, helping with everything from weight loss to therapeutic injections. See what they do online and call (973) 839-5700 to schedule an appointment.

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