About obesity
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3 min. read
What are the causes of obesity?
Obesity is a complex disease and there are many causes of obesity. Learn some of the reasons for obesity and how they affect how obesity is managed.
The image is a model and not a real patient.
How does obesity affect your joints?
Living with obesity for a prolonged period can be tough on your joints. This is because all that extra weight puts more stress on them, kind of like overloading a shelf. Overtime, this extra stress can break down the cartilage between your bones making them sore, stiff and harder to move leading to a condition called osteoarthritis (OA). This is especially true for your knees as they take on a lot of the weight burden. While obesity doesn’t directly cause OA, it can increase the chances of the disease and make the condition worse.
How does obesity and joint disease impact your life?
Living with chronic obesity can lead to joint pain and damage, which can affect mobility and quality of life. The stress of extra weight and inflammation can gradually harm the joints, sometimes leading to disability and may increase the need for surgeries like knee and hip replacements. These surgeries are more common among people living with obesity compared to those who do not.
But the good news is, there are management strategies and lifestyle changes that can be made to protect your joints and improve your overall well-being. The best part? By managing your weight, you might even avoid the need for surgeries like knee or hip replacements down the road.
Lifestyle changes and supportive care for joint wellness
Managing weight has shown to improve both pain and function in people living with obesity and OA. Even modest weight loss can significantly reduce stress on weight-bearing joints, alleviating pain and improving function. Studies indicate that losing as little as 5-10% of body weight can lead to noticeable improvements in joint health and mobility.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is essential for mitigating the impact of obesity on joint health. Regular physical activity, tailored to individual capabilities, strengthens muscles around the joints, improves flexibility, and reduces joint pain. Resistance training is particularly beneficial for those with joint pain, as it minimises stress on the joints while promoting strength and flexibility.
Speaking to your doctor can also play a crucial role in managing obesity and its impact on joint health. They can provide personalised advice, nutritional guidance, and exercise plans. In some cases, medical interventions such as pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery may be recommended for sustainable weight management and improvement in joint health.
What to remember while navigating your joint wellbeing
Since obesity has become more prevalent, it is important to understand how it affects our joints. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce its effects. By embracing simple lifestyle modifications such as weight management and regular physical activity, alongside seeking help from healthcare professionals, you can take control over your joint health.
References:
- King, L.K., March, L. and Anandacoomarasamy, A. (2013). Obesity & osteoarthritis. The Indian journal of medical research, [online] 138(2), pp.185–93. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3788203/.
- WHO (2024). One in eight people are now living with obesity. [online] www.who.int. Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/01-03-2024-one-in-eight-people-are-now-living-with-obesity.
- Orthopaedic Surgeons, A.A. of (2015). Position Statement. [online] Available at: https://www.aaos.org/contentassets/1cd7f41417ec4dd4b5c4c48532183b96/1184-the-impact-of-obesity-on-bone-and-joint-health1.pdf.
- Lim, Y.Z., Wong, J., Hussain, S.M., Estee, M.M., Zolio, L., Page, M.J., Harrison, C.L., Wluka, A.E., Wang, Y. and Cicuttini, F.M. (2022). Recommendations for weight management in osteoarthritis: A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 4(4), p.100298. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocarto.2022.100298.
- World Health Organization (2023). Osteoarthritis. [online] www.who.int. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/osteoarthritis.
- Brock, J.L. and Kamath, A.F. (2019). Obesity and racial characteristics drive utilization of total joint arthroplasty at a younger age. Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma, 10(2), pp.334–339. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcot.2018.04.007.
- Harms, S., Larson, R., Sahmoun, A.E. and Beal, J.R. (2007). Obesity increases the likelihood of total joint replacement surgery among younger adults. International Orthopaedics, [online] 31(1), pp.23–26. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-006-0130-y.
- Bliddal, H., Leeds, A.R. and Christensen, R. (2014). Osteoarthritis, obesity and weight loss: evidence, hypotheses and horizons - a scoping review. Obesity Reviews, [online] 15(7), pp.578–586. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12173.
- Harvard Health Publishing (2013). Avoiding knee or hip surgery - Harvard Health. [online] Harvard Health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/avoiding-knee-or-hip-surgery.
- Chen, L., Yi Zheng, J.J., Li, G., Yuan, J., Ebert, J.R., Li, H., Papadimitriou, J., Wang, Q., Wood, D., Jones, C.W. and Zheng, M. (2020). Pathogenesis and clinical management of obesity-related knee osteoarthritis: Impact of mechanical loading. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 24, pp.66–75. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jot.2020.05.001.
ZA25OB00160, June 2025
About obesity
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