How Weight Loss Can Ease Knee Arthritis — or Help You Avoid It Altogether

Millions of Americans suffer from knee osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that causes increasing pain, stiffness, and mobility issues. Because knees are weight-bearing joints, it may not be surprising to know that people who are overweight are more likely to experience more intense symptoms, thanks to the added pressure on their knees.

There is good news, though. With a personalized medical weight-loss plan, you can reduce knee arthritis symptoms — and maybe even avoid them altogether. In this post, Joseph Moleski, DO, Laura Howard, FNP-C, and the team at STL Medical Weight Loss explain how.

How weight affects your knees

As large, weight-bearing joints, your knees definitely experience a lot of stress and pressure throughout the day. All that strain takes a toll on the layer of cartilage that protects your joints, gradually wearing it down.

As wear-and-tear continues, friction inside the joint increases, leading to inflammation and additional cartilage destruction. This is the cycle that underpins osteoarthritis, and without treatment, you can wind up with increasing amounts of pain, joint swelling, and loss of movement in the joint.

When we’re carrying extra weight, those added pounds place even more pressure on the protective cartilage layer, speeding up the process that leads to joint damage and painful OA symptoms. In fact, data estimate that every extra pound we carry results in about four pounds of extra pressure on our knees. That means if you’re even 10 pounds overweight, you’re putting an additional 40 pounds of pressure on your knees with every step you take.

There’s one more way weight can affect your joints. Fatty tissue produces inflammatory agents that increase overall inflammation in your body. Because OA involves inflammation, increased systemic inflammation can make knee symptoms worse, as well.

Losing weight to protect your joints

Considering how extra weight affects your knees, it’s easy to understand how losing weight can help reduce OA symptoms and even prevent OA from occurring. Less pressure on your joints means there’s less risk of joint damage — even a small amount of weight loss can yield big benefits for your knees. Less fatty tissue also means less inflammation overall.

But beyond those physical benefits, there’s an emotional impact of weight loss, too. When you lose weight, you gain a sense of accomplishment and control over your own health and wellness. Achieving weight-loss goals helps you stay motivated, so you’re more likely to stay active, follow a healthy diet, and make other changes beneficial to your joints (and the rest of your body).

Of course, losing weight can be challenging, especially if you’re trying to do it on your own. Medical weight-loss programs provide a better alternative, tailoring your efforts to your body’s specific needs for better results and greater success in achieving and maintaining your goals.

Your plan begins with a physical exam, a review of your health history and past weight-loss attempts, and lab tests to identify obstacles that could hinder your weight-loss success. Then, our team works with you to develop a plan based on your unique needs, featuring healthy eating, increased activity, and medications or supplements as needed. Regular check-ins and ongoing support keep you on track every step of the way.

Make joint health a priority

May is Arthritis Awareness Month, which means it’s a really great time to learn more about your risk of OA and what you can do to protect your joints. 

To learn how we can help, call or book an appointment online with STL Medical Weight Loss at our Chesterfield, Missouri, practice today. Can’t make it to the office? We also offer telehealth services for patients in Missouri, Texas, Illinois, Kansas, Florida, Delaware, Arizona, New York, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada, and Washington State.