In my last post I wrote about certain how nutritional supplements may aid pain reduction and other measures of osteoarthritis severity. Eating a healthy diet is important in helping to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis for other reasons too – a balanced, healthy diet throughout life is crucially important in order to maintain a steady, healthy weight and prevent long-term overweight and obesity.
Being overweight is a risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis and will also worsen the condition over time. The extra weight places stress on the cartilage and joints. When osteoarthritis is severe total joint replacement is sometimes necessary. Being overweight is the primary risk factor for joint replacement in osteoarthritis sufferers.
A recently published study (1) assessed over 30,000 healthy volunteers in Melbourne, Australia. Their body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip-ratio (a measure of abdominal obesity), fat mass and percentage body fat were recorded. The relationship between different measures of overweight and risk of subsequent primary knee and hip joint replacement was measured.
The results showed that those with a higher body weight, BMI, fat mass and percentage fat had a significantly increased risk of joint replacement. Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were also associated with an increased risk i.e. the more weight carried around the waist/stomach correlated to the risk of joint replacement. This is important to note since weight/fat round the middle/stomach area is linked to metabolic issues and is also a risk factor for other problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
The study therefore indicates that extra weight, and where the weight is carried, are important factors to consider in osteoporosis. Fat mass and percentage fat were also associated with an increased risk of primary knee and hip joint replacement even 10 – 15 years after their original measurement.
According to the study authors extra weight and fat mass in the body contribute to increased stress on the joints which could increase the risk of osteoarthritis progression and subsequent joint replacement surgery in sever osteoarthritis suffers. It is also likely that metabolic factors are involved in the progression of osteoarthritis since fat around the waist/middle, known as central adiposity, is known to contribute to a condition known as metabolic syndrome. This condition is associated with type two diabetes and is a risk factor for heart disease. Fat (adipose) tissue can be involved in the production and release of hormones and other chemicals known as cytokines which are linked to cartilage destruction and inflammation in the body.
The authors conclude, “The obesity epidemic occurring in developed countries is likely to have a significant impact on the future demands for knee and hip replacements for osteoarthritis and understanding the mechanism of action will be important in effective prevention of osteoarthritis“.
Trying to achieve (and stick to) a balanced, healthy, daily diet is important for the maintenance of a healthy lifetime weight and prevention against overweight and obesity, as well as a whole array of other conditions.
(1)Wang Y, Simpson JA, Wluka AE, Teichtahl AJ, English DR, Giles GG, Graves S, Cicuttini FM. 2009. Relationship between body adiposity measures and risk of primary knee and hip replacement for osteoarthritis: a prospective cohort study. Arthritis Res Ther. 11(2):R31. [Epub ahead of print]
Written by Ani Kowal
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