ARTHRITIS and OBESITYDr Matthew Constas, PhDObesity As A Risk Factor For Arthritis(Keywords: ARTHRITIS and OBESITY, obesity and arthritis, hip arthritis, knee arthritis, hand arthritis)Obesity-related diseases are becoming a quickly increasing problem in the Western world, the result of an extreme obesity epidemic that now rivals hunger-related health problems as a primary cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality. Many common diseases have been linked to obesity, including osteoarthritis (OA). Although OA is the most prevalent joint disorder, obesity is also known to be a factor in developing other musculoskeletal conditions that can result in joint pain and disability.
OA is a common condition, affecting 70% of senior citizens who are older than 65. This accounts for a staggering 27 million residents of the United States—12.1% of adult Americans. The world's population is aging and becoming overweight at a fast pace—two of the major risk factors for developing OA. The social and economic burden resulting from the prevalence of OA is distressingly high. The symptom most strongly associated with OA is joint pain, which is the result of a loss of articular cartilage. Pain is most often experienced in the hip, knee, and hand joints. Those still in the first stages of OA only have pain when they use the affected joint, but as the disease progresses the pain becomes more constant. Eventually sufferers experience pain even when their joints are resting and when they are asleep. TREATMENTARTHRITIS and OBESITYTreatments for OA are focused on pain relief, and there are both surgical and non-surgical options available. Surgery to treat OA is a last resort for those whose symptoms are severe and resistant to other forms of treatment. For most OA sufferers, symptoms can be controlled through the use of medication, proper nutrition, acupuncture, and changes in lifestyle.A pharmacological approach to OA therapy is common, achieving pain relief through the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (Advil, Aleve, Orudis) and analgesics (Tylenol). However, a number of people experience side effects when using these medications, most frequently gastrointestinal problems. As an alternative to these medications, increasingly more people are turning to natural formulas for pain relief. The controversial and partially encouraging results of the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) have spurred on this trend [1]. Dietary supplements containing glucosamine or chondroitin sulphate are now taken by around 5 million Americans.
Obesity and Arthritis : The LinkNumerous research studies have shown that there is a positive relationship between weight and OA. Results of population-based studies have been consistent in finding that overweight people are at an increased risk of developing OA when compared to people from the same population who are not overweight.A large Australian study found that overweight adults are at double the risk for being diagnosed with OA than adults of a normal weight. This study of 7500 people found the relationship between BMI (a measure of excess weight) and obesity to hold even after adjusting for socioeconomic status, age, and sex. (Scroll down to calculate your BMI) A linear relationship between increasing BMI and the relative risk of developing OA of the knee has been demonstrated through large population studies [2]. A 4-year UK study with 830 female middle-aged participants found a strong relationship between BMI and knee OA. Women with a BMI greater than 26.4 were at twice the risk of developing osteophytes than women with a BMI less than 23.4. (Explanations: BMI above 25 indicates overweight; Osteophytes are bony projections that develop in arthritis-damaged joints.) A survey of 858 people in Scotland found that lower limb joint pain was positively related to obesity; participants who were obese reported twice the frequency of pain in the hips, knees, ankles, and feet. According to a survey of 5000 Americans, the risk of knee OA doubled with every 5 unit increase in BMI. Additionally, reviews of lists of patients scheduled to receive joint replacement therapy have shown that they tend to weigh significantly more than healthy people of the corresponding age and gender.
KNEE ARTHRITIS and OBESITYARTHRITIS and OBESITYThe mechanical load experienced by the hip joint is more broadly distributed than that of the knee, meaning that the hip joint is subject to less stress. This explains why obesity appears to have a weaker association with hip arthritis than with knee OA.One cross-sectional study, consisting of 2358 people, failed to find evidence of any link between obesity and hip OA. Other studies have reported a positive correlation between hip OA and obesity. For instance, information collected in the USA Nurses study found that those with a higher BMI at age 18 were at 5 times the risk of needing hip replacement in the future.
Weight's Effect On Hand OAHAND ARTHRITIS and OBESITYA primary explanation for the effects of obesity on OA is that carrying excess weight places more stress on the joints. Since hands are not weight-bearing, it seems logical that hand OA and obesity would not be related. However, being overweight does actually appear to increase a person's risk for developing OA hand arthritis [3]. The implication of this fact is that the increased risk of OA in obese people is not solely the result of mechanical strain. Other causal factors are involved in arthritis and obesity.
Which Comes First: Obesity or OA?ARTHRITIS and OBESITYDemonstrating a relationship between obesity and OA isn't enough to prove that excess weight is a cause of OA. For example, an alternative explanation could be that the significant knee pain experienced by OA sufferers reduces their amount of physical activity and leads to weight gain.This question of causality has been addressed by several studies implementing a longitudinal design [4]. The Framingham Heart Study followed up with 1420 subjects over the course of 36 years. The results showed that those who were overweight when the study began, at age 37, were at an increased risk of developing OA by the end of the study, when they were 73. Since knee OA was extremely rare at the age of 37, this indicates that obesity was the causative factor rather than OA.
In ConclusionARTHRITIS and OBESITYIt has been demonstrated that excess adipose tissue is a significant risk factor for OA, with obesity consistently being shown to increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knees. Obesity has a smaller but still notable positive effect on the risk of developing OA of the hand and hip. This provides support for weight reduction as an essential component of OA treatment, along with the use of arthritis medication supplements, especially for those with knee OA.
About the AuthorARTHRITIS and OBESITYDr Matthew Constas, PhD, has an extensive background in medical science and is particularly interested in the association between obesity and potentially prevented conditions such as OA. He keeps a close eye on the latest scientific research being conducted on obesity, weight loss, and nutrition. Dr Constas maintains a blog where he offers an eDiets promo code and a diet to go coupon code discount, two leading meal delivery weight loss programs in the US.Ediets award winning diet program COUPONS: DIET TO GO The perfect diet plan for busy people REFERENCES @ ARTHRITIS and OBESITY
USEFUL LINKSReturn from OBESITY and ARTHRITIS to IMMOBILISATION ARTHRITIS … what happens when joints cease to moveReturn from ARTHRITIS and OBESITY to Chiropractic Help ARTHRITIS homepage … Go from ARTHRITIS and OBESITY to CHIROPRACTIC HELP home page … BODY MASS INDEX ( BMI )ARTHRITIS and OBESITYBMI can be classified as follows:1. Underweight: BMI less than 18.5 2. Optimal weight: BMI between 18.5 - 24.9 3. Overweight: BMI between 25 - 29.9 4. Obese = BMI over 30 5. Serious problem: BMI greater than 35. Heart attack, stroke, diabetes, knee and ankle arthritis await you. To calculate your BMI, just fill in your weight and height at the following link, and you will know the whole truth. It may be painful. Are you literally facing a stroke, death? Am I being overdramatic? No! A good friend right now is in hospital, fighting for his life, after a bypass that went haywire. I've been pleading with him for over twenty years ... he's only 60.
NUTRITIONAL CORNER from Chiropractic HelpARTHRITIS and OBESITYThe omega-3 oil in fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, flax oil and walnuts will to some extent ameliorate the effect of obesity and arthritis. FISH OIL HEALTH BENEFITS ...So too, coloured fruits and vegetables like strawberries and broccoli have been shown to reduce the pain of arthritis. WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITISPart II of a review of the scientific literature by Dr Matt Constas on the relationship between osteoarthritis and obesity. WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS ...MONTHLY NEWSLETTERBACK ISSUESIssue #20: 50 percent less pain / Green beans Issue #19: Retirement sentiments / Growing Garbanzo beans Issue #18: Shoulder Pain / A Walk in the Sun Issue #17: Facial Pain / Mussel Facts Issue #16: Obesity in the Chiropractic Clinic / Flax seed Issue #15: Breastbone pain / Broccoli Issue #14: Hip and Groin pain / Statins for lowering cholesterol Issue #13: Can a DC help your Lumbar Facet Syndrome / Strawberries, a wonder food Issue #12: Help Baby Colic Cures 2 / Eggplant for high cholesterol Issue #11: Groin and Thigh Pain / Hummus Issue #10: Friday Fun Stones in my Clog. / Cucumber Issue #09: Friday Fun: Headache Issue #08: Spinal Stenosis/ Celery Issue #07: Root of all Healing / Garbanzo beans /Chickpeas Issue #06: Safety on the Stairs / Ginger Issue #05: Safety in the home / Red foods Issue #04: Whiplash and the Joints of Luschka / Parsley Issue #03: How to stop falling / Danger of a low fat diet Issue #01: Tingling in the arms and hands / Apples (PS. If you find them boring, one click will de-list you.) Obesity and ArthritisDid you find this page useful? Then perhaps forward OBESITY AND ARTHRITIS to a suffering friend. |
PROTEIN
I'm starting with the vegetable sources, not because I'm suggesting you become a vegetarian, but because there's much research indicating we should eat less animal protein.
Vegetable protein
TOFU NUTRITION
Green snap beans are nearly 2% protein.
CHICKPEAS
AUTHENTIC HUMMUS RECIPE ... make it in 4 mins
LENTIL PROTEIN ...throw a handful in whenever you cook rice.
Fish protein
WAYS TO COOK SALMON
SMOKED SALMON DIP RECIPE
Free-range Chicken
CHICKEN BONES ...for osteoarthritis
Guineafowl, pheasant, wild duck... if you can get it.
Red meat
A omega-3/ omega-6 ratio of almost 1 is excellent. Cornfed beed raises the omega-6 alarmingly creating an arthritic tendency.
We avoided pork in Europe. It has absolutely no taste... but if you can find free range pork... be prepared to pay extra, just eat less. Worth every cent.
MUTTON STEW