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Are You Overweight? Three Proofs Show How Obesity Hurts Your Joints
Did you know that obesity is one of the leading causes of immobility in adults? The excess body weight some people carry around increases the pressure that is being put on the joints. Over time, this excess weight can cause the cartilage to begin to break down as well, which can lead to severe pain and difficulty when walking.
Can Obesity Cause Joint Problems?
By losing weight, you are not only reducing risks of heart failure and cholesterol increase, but you are reducing the pain as well. In addition, experts were able to find out that obesity bone and joint problems lead to osteoarthritis. So, if you want to treat joint pain, cut back on those double cheese bacon burgers and fries.
Does Obesity Cause Joint Problems?
Before you end up with obesity-related joint pain, it is best that you are aware of the other risks of being overweight. One of the common health risks brought on by obesity is coronary heart disease.
A study proved that as your body mass index (BMI) increases, your coronary heart disease risk also increases. The condition is characterized by reduced blood flow and blocked coronary arteries.
Moreover, high blood pressure is common among obese people. According to an American Heart Association study, being obese or overweight increases your chances of developing high blood pressure. This is due to the fact that increased weight causes heart strain. Moreover, even triglyceride and blood cholesterol levels rise.
Type 2 diabetes risk is another disadvantage of being obese. Obesity increases blood sugar levels. Having diabetes causes kidney problems, stroke, and blindness.
Health Problems Caused by Obesity
The Relationship Between Obesity and Knee Pain
There are different ways you can understand the relationship between obesity and knee joint pain. To make it easier for you, given below are three situations explaining how obesity wrecks joints:
- Increases pressure on the knee. According to a study, a pound of weight is equivalent to a four-pound load to your knees. With increased pressure on your knees, you will be at risk to wear and tear.
- Additionally, your osteoarthritis risk may also increase. In contrast, you can reduce your risk of osteoarthritis by losing weight. According to the American College of Rheumatology study, a four-fold reduction in knee load is achievable by losing a pound. The research added that the progression of osteoarthritis occurs when biomechanical joint stress increases in obese adults.
- Worsened pain in the knees. Obesity and pain have long been related, based on numerous studies. The studies concluded that obesity could cause health problems as detrimental as chronic pain. This is due to the fact that chronic pain is associated with increased triglycerides, harmful cholesterol levels, and metabolic syndrome. Aside from knee pain, obesity has been related to other pain issues. These pain issues include headaches, abdominal pain, and fibromyalgia, among others.
- Cartilage Breakdown and Higher Osteoarthritis Risk. Being overweight results in a breakdown of the cartilage, which covers the ends of the bones. The more obese you become, the more stressed your joints are. Rheumatology experts claimed that knees and hips have the most weight-bearing joints. This is the main reason why obese people have joint problems more frequently than people with normal weight. Obesity dramatically increases arthritis risk.
It can be depressing to know that your obesity causes all your pain, including knee problems. However, you can still correct this by losing weight. Start eating right, exercising, and getting professional help for weight control. If you want to learn more about your obesity and joint pain, watch this video:
So, what’s the answer to this?
Eat Less Sugar, Refined Foods, Fast Foods, Trans fats, Diet and Sugary Sodas
I got a phone call from one of my customers at one point. He was complaining about his knee pain. So, I asked him how much he weighs. “350 pounds”, was the reply. I said, ” Gee, maybe you should consider changing your diet.” He said that he eats a perfectly healthy diet of a large bowl of spaghetti with tomato sauce.
My friends, if you are eating like that, you are probably overweight, too. And unless he changes his diet radically, I don’t see any hope of improvement for him.
Switch to a Healthy Diet and Include Some Superfoods
There has been a lot of research into what constitutes a healthy diet, and that includes lots of fruits and vegetables to get the vitamins and minerals we need, plus a good amount of protein to keep muscles in shape.
Some oils are better than others. Olive oil and coconut oil are two of the most common ones. In fact, some common foods, called superfoods, can reduce knee discomfort.
Here is another advantage of eating wisely. Did you know that spices not only make food taste better, but they’re good for you, too!
Foods to Avoid
Sugar, refined foods, fast foods, diet or sugary sodas, and lots of dairy are all examples of foods you want to minimize or avoid. Likewise, lots of bread, pasta, and refined grains like white rice, white bread, and pasta made from refined flour, are best to minimize as well.
The question arises, if you are reading this, and you are overweight, then take a look at a structured diet program, something to keep you on track.
Obesity and Joint Replacement Surgery
There have also been investigations into how obesity can affect joint replacement surgery. Some studies found that patients who were overweight had a much higher chance of infection and developing blood clots. The surgery can also take longer for an obese patient because of a more extended period of anesthesia is necessary. This all means that the recovery time may also be extended.
Losing Weight with Bad Joints
So, what if you have knee pain and bad joints, and you are in pain? There are still ways you can lose weight safely and effectively. Weight loss is definitely not easy, and it will only get harder with each excuse you make not to follow through.
Exercise is one of the best ways you can lose weight by burning calories. Eating fewer calories is also beneficial and a critical part of a weight loss journey. If you have arthritic joints and it makes it hard for you to engage in many physical activities, consider changing your eating habits as we have described above and then find some low impact exercises like rowing and swimming to start incorporating into your routine.
Low impact exercises put far less strain and pressure on your joints. They can also boost your cardiovascular fitness while allowing you to burn the calories you need to burn to lose weight.
Health Problems Linked to Obesity
In addition to joint problems and knee pain, obesity can also be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease, and kidney disease.
In summary, to help with knee pain, and to benefit your overall health, work on losing weight and decreasing the pressure you are putting on your knees and reduce the inflammation in your body. Even just a 10 percent reduction in your weight can mean much lower inflammation throughout the body.
As always, before you embark on this health journey, make sure to discuss everything with your doctor to make sure you are losing weight safely and effectively.
