HHS HealthBeat (April 27, 2009)

Weight on the knees

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Overweight people have a higher risk of getting osteoarthritis of the knee. So that’s a good reason for diet and exercise. But a study also finds people who have osteoarthritis don’t reduce their risk of getting worse if they lose weight.

David Felson of Boston University checked X-rays of knees.

The risk of getting osteoarthritis rose as weight did, with the most obese having the most risk. But it wasn’t as simple for people with osteoarthritis:

[David Felson speaks] ``Those in the very highest level of obesity did have a modestly increased risk of experiencing progression. Those with somewhat less levels of obesity or being overweight did not have any increase in risk.’’

Felson says they should control weight, too, to fight pain.

The study in the journal Arthritis Care and Research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April, 28 2009