Losing weight would reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis and decrease the risk of undergoing knee surgery.
- Osteoarthritis of the knee is more common in women than in men according to Health Insurance.
- Osteoarthritis of the knee is rare in people under 40.
10 million people suffer from osteoarthritis in France, according to National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). In detail, according to the site of theHealth Insurancethis disease affects 3% of the population under 45, 65% after 65 and 80% over 80.
Lose weight to slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can be defined as the destruction of cartilage – which allows bones to slide past each other – of one or more joints. When this disease affects the knee, it is the bony ends of the joint, covered with cartilage, which are affected.
Osteoarthritis is manifested by severe pain that can make it a debilitating disease in the long term, because there is currently no cure. The solutions offered to patients are mainly aimed at relieving pain by taking medication, by injecting corticosteroids into the joint or even by wearing a knee prosthesis.
To slow down the evolution of this pathology, doctors generally recommend that patients follow lifestyle and dietary measures, one of the most important of which is weight loss. And this is precisely what has just been confirmed by a new study, presented at the last international congress on obesity in melbournein Australia.
Extra pounds increase the risk of knee surgery by 25-35%
According to the researchers, in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, gaining 5 kilos of weight increases the risk of arthroplasty – surgery to improve knee mobility – by 35% in women and 25% in men. They also observed that patients who had put on weight suffered from greater pain and stiffness.
To achieve this result, the scientists analyzed the medical data of more than 250,000 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Some of them had lost weight. Thus, the researchers also observed that those who had lost an equivalent of 10% or more of body weight had better joint comfort and less risk of undergoing surgery.
Eat better and exercise to limit the symptoms of rheumatism
“Osteoarthritis was more likely to develop with weight gain and progress fasterconfirmed Dr. Anita Wluka, lead author of the study. This is particularly worrying. Knee replacements are expensive and one in five people are unhappy with the results and remain in pain after surgery. Those who remain in pain are more likely to need a second surgery, which is more expensive and less likely to control their pain.“
Researchers therefore recommend that people who suffer from osteoarthritis eat a balanced diet and do at least three sports sessions per week. Recommendations that also apply to the entire population. Indeed, theWorld Health Organization (WHO) recommends doing at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity sport or 75 to 150 minutes of sustained intensity per week to be in good health.