• Can osteoarthritis be caused by being overweight?

My mother is overweight and has recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Will losing weight help in treating her condition?

7 Answers

  • Rheumatologist
  • Indianapolis, IN

Losing weight will help but not eliminate her symptoms. Osteoarthritis has multiple factors and obesity is one contributing factor

  • Rheumatologist
  • Tustin, CA

Excessive weight contributes to osteoarthritis in weight bearing joints such as the knees, feet, hips and low back. Dr Dore

  • Rheumatologist
  • Danville, PA

Unquestionably, weight loss will help osteoarthritis - esp of lumbar spine, hips and knees

  • Rheumatologist
  • Bloomfield, NJ

The answer depends on where she has joint pain. Knees are a very common site for osteoarthritis for overweight patients. Losing even a few pounds should help to reduce knee pain. If the pain is in other joints, weight loss may be less important.

  • Rheumatologist
  • Hewlett, NY

Obesity affects arthritis for two reasons: First, the excess load on your joints can cause pain and discomfort and second, a number of inflammatory mediators produced in fat affect joint tissues and play a role in pain, just as being overweight is linked to increased arthritis pain, weight loss may help improve arthritis symptoms. Check out this article for more information: https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/reasons-lose-weight-with-arthritis/

  • Rheumatologist
  • Tampa, FL

Losing weight may help. It depends if the arthritis is in her back, hips, knees, etc.

  • Rheumatologist
  • Brooklyn, New York

Hi yes definitely the more pressure on the joints the more pain it would be. So definitely weight loss is a big factor. She can also have hyaluronic acid injections into the knee to help lubricate the joints.

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