Early results show weight loss may reduce osteoarthritis and osteophytes

[James Marusek 5,244]

A recent study was conducted by Dr. Jos Runhaar of the Erasmus MC, Department of General Practice, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues.

These researchers examined the records of 353 overweight or obese women (BMI ≥ 27 m/kg2), a subset of participants in the PROOF study (Prevention of Knee Osteoarthritis in Overweight Females), which was designed to examine the preventive efficacy of diet and exercise and glucosamine sulphate supplementation on the incidence of knee osteoarthritis. On average, the participants in this subgoup were 56 years old, and had BMIs of 33 kgm/m2. They compared the arthritis incidence in women who met a goal of losing either 5 kgm (about 11 pounds) or 5 percent of their body weight within 30 months of beginning the study, to the incidence in women who did not meet that goal. Initially, the women did not suffer from osteoarthritis, as determined by X-ray evidence of joint space narrowing.

The incidence of knee osteoarthritis was 15 percent for women who met that weight loss goal, compared to 20 percent in the women who did not; a numerically small but statistically significant difference. In addition, more of the women who didn’t meet the goal had osteophytes (bone spurs along the edges of the joint) than did those who did lose the weight — again a statistically significant difference.

I wonder what effect might be observable on the many weight loss patients who have reduced their weight by as much as 50% of their body weight instead of the 5% within this study.

Here is a link. http://acsh.org/news/2016/02/18/weight-loss-helps-prevent-knee-arthritis-who-knew/

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

That's too funny because with all of my weight loss my osteoarthritis has actually gotten worse. I am in constant pain everyday, I guess without the fat for cushioning well maybe this has something to do with it.

[James Marusek 5,244]

That's too funny because with all of my weight loss my osteoarthritis has actually gotten worse. I am in constant pain everyday, I guess without the fat for cushioning well maybe this has something to do with it.

You might be right. All of the experimental patients in this study did not suffer from osteoarthritis, as determined by X-ray evidence of joint space narrowing prior to the commencement of the study, they were just overweight. So maybe if you catch it early (and lose the weight), it may never progress to the point where it becomes a major problem.

[GBLady41 393]

As I understand it, osteoarthritis is a joint degenerative disease. So, the losing weight is great. But the exercise we are expected to do before and after surgery, walking, is one of the worst things we can do with this disease, as told to me by my Orthopaedic doctor. Being on the elliptical, stationary bike, or Water aerobics is much better for the joints. Maybe changing the exercise to those mentioned above, and stepping up on your supplements can begin to slow down the rate of degeneration of your joints. I have osteoarthritis and chondromalatia patella and osteophytes. I'm preop and I have tried to be careful with how much walking I do. I've been able to keep the condition of my knees pretty good by that and supplementation.

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