Obesity and Weight Loss in the Treatment and Prevention of Osteoarthritis
Heather Ketelaar Vincenta b✉, Kendrick Heywoodc, Jacob O. Connellyc, Robert W. Hurleyd e
- aDepartment of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Division of Research, University of Florida, UF Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute, PO Box 112727, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. vincehk@ortho.ufl.edu
- bUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, United States
- cDepartment of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Division of Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL‡ ‡Disclosure: nothing to disclose
- dDepartments of Anesthesiology, Psychiatry, and Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- eDepartments of Anesthesiology, Psychiatry, and Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL¶ ¶Disclosure: 5, Medico-Legal; 8, NIH (grant #AR057552-01A1)
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
Obesity is associated with an increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints and pain. Obesity is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), and pain can manifest in load-bearing and nonload-bearing joints. The lumbar spine and the knee are 2 primary sites for pain onset in the obese patient. Irrespective of the weight loss method, reduction of body fat can lower the mechanical and inflammatory stressors that contribute to OA. Single or combined methods of weight loss including exercise, dietary modification, medications, and bariatric surgery are associated with lower joint pain and increased physical function. Methods of weight loss or maintenance in early years may reduce the life exposure of joints to the obesity induced stressors on load bearing joints.