WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS

Part II

Weight Loss: An Effective Treatment For Osteoarthritis?

(KEYWORDS: WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS, Effective Treatment For Osteoarthritis, obesity and arthritis)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful joint disease common among the elderly and overweight. In fact, 70% of people over age 65 are affected by OA, and obese people are at a particularly high risk of developing knee OA. The total number of OA sufferers is likely to increase as the world's population continues to age and put on excess pounds. While not much can be done about growing older, being overweight is an important risk factor for OA that can be addressed.

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Why Obesity Causes OA: The Connection

WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS

There are two ways in which obesity is thought to increase the risk for developing OA:

1. The first theory is that obesity leads to the breakdown of joint cartilage simply because excess weight puts too much force on the joints. The cartilage damage then leads to the development of OA. This theory is a plausible explanation for why knee OA is more frequently linked to obesity than is hip OA; the knee is under more concentrated force than the hip. This theory does not offer an explanation for why obesity appears to also increase the risk for hand OA, however, as the hand joint does not bear any weight.

2. This leads to the second theory, which states that excess weight results in secretion of a circulating factor that affects all the body's joints—hands, knees, and hips—and causes cartilage to break down. This theory offers an explanation for how obesity can cause OA even in non-weight-bearing joints, like shoulders and hands.

   
   
   

   Adipose tissue acts an Endocrine Organ

   This theory finds support in the discovery of adipose tissue's role as an endocrine organ [1]. The fat tissue secretes substances that are present at higher levels in the bodies of people who are overweight or obese.

   Adipose cells generate peptides that are responsible for causing inflammatory processes, a chronic problem observed among the obese. This constant low-grade inflammation may damage articular cartilage, eventually leading to a diagnosis of OA.

   
   
   

   Can Weight Loss Improve OA Symptoms?

   WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS

   In 2007, a meta-analysis was performed on data from all the existing studies on the effect of weight loss on OA. This review of prior research was conducted in order to discover whether weight loss improved pain and function in people with knee OA. The findings showed that functional disability was indeed improved as a result of a moderate reduction in weight.

   A loss of 5-10% of body weight was enough for overweight OA patients to experience relief of their symptoms. The study recommended weight loss at the rate of 1.1 to 3.3 pounds per week, which can be achieved through several existing weight loss programs. For example, the clinically tested and medically designed Medifast or Nutrisystem weight management programs, complemented with the possible benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate supplements, may result in an ideal weight loss rate of 3 pounds per week and substantial decrease in articular pain.

   
   
   

   Can Weight Loss Prevent OA?

   Among men in the Framingham OA study [2], losing weight was found to have a significant effect on the chances of developing OA of the knee. Specifically, the possibility of developing knee OA later in life would be decreased by more than 21% if obese men lost enough weight to be considered only overweight, and overweight men lost enough of their excess body fat to reach a normal weight. The investigators noted that, if the obese men were able to lose enough additional weight to fall into the normal weight range, the decrease in the chances of presenting OA sympoms would be even greater.

   If women managed to lose enough weight to drop down a category—from obese to overweight or from overweight to normal—development of knee OA would decrease by an impressive 33%.

   
   
   

   In Summary @ WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS

   Research to date has not provided us with a clear-cut scientific explanation of the relationship between obesity, weight loss, and OA. But despite the questions that remain, we do have evidence that being overweight results in a significantly increased risk for developing OA of the hands, knees, and hips. Whether this is due to extra stress on the joints or secretion of bioactive substances by adipose tissue, it is clear that weight loss, in combination with glucosamine nutraceuticals, should be considered an important part of any treatment plan for OA. Weight loss reduces the disability, pain, and stiffness of OA, and may also play an essential role in preventing the later development of OA in obese young people.

   
   

   
   
   

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   About the Author

   Dr Matthew Constas, PhD, is a biology researcher who has developed a special interest in obesity and its relationship to diseases such as osteoarthritis. He enjoys providing information to the public through his blog, where he reviews weight loss programs and offers Medifast promo discounts and Nutrisystem discounts, two clinically evaluated meal replacement plans.

   
   
   

   References

   1. Obesity and inflammation--targets for OA therapy. Iannone F, et al. Curr Drug Targets. 2010 May;11(5):586-98.

   2. Comparing two low-energy diets for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis symptoms in obese patients: a pragmatic randomized clinical trial. Riecke BF, et al. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2010 Feb 17.

   
   
   

   Part I: OBESITY AND ARTHRITIS

   Dr Constans' first article: OBESITY AND ARTHRITIS ...
   
   
   
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   ARE YOU OBESE?

   Uncomfortable though the question may be, knowing whether you are simply overweight ( Body Mass Index 25-30) or obese (BMI above 30) is important.

   It's not just about osteoarthritis, but heart disease, stroke, diabetes and a host of other very serious diseases that await obese persons.

   Calculate Your Body Mass Index

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   STANDARD   Your Height: Feet and Inches   Your Weight: Pounds

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   High protein foods There has long been interest in high protein diets, since Dr Adkins and probably earlier, some with low carbohydrate, some with low fat. All have merit but need to be treated with caution. Both carbohydrates (such as in apples) and fatty acids (such as in fish) should be regularly in the diet... HIGH PROTEIN LOW FAT FOODS ... USEFUL LINKS @ WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS DOES MEDIFAST WORK Find out what MEDIFAST customers say ... NUTRISYSTEM Healthy meals delivered to your door ... Return from WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS to FREE WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS … Go from WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS to CHIROPRACTIC HELP home page … Vitamin B9, homocysteine and arthritis It's complex biochemistry but there is much research coming out that an even worse enemy in the body than high LDL cholesterol is a toxic break down product of protein metabolism. In the normal situation, homocysteine is rapidly metabolised in the presence of several vitamins and minerals, one of which is vitamin B9, folate. One of the consequences of high homocysteine is arthritis. The break down of homocysteine, in the prevention of arthritis and many other diseases, is totally dependent on high folate levels ... MONTHLY NEWSLETTER @ WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS BACK ISSUES Issue #28 Lower Back exercises / Breast cancer prevention / Lima beans Issue #27 Post Chiropractic Adjustment pain / Healthy prostate gland / Home management of very severe low back pain Issue #26 Chronic joint pain causes and relief/ Cervical ribs / A Family Affair Issue #25 Chronic arthritis / Parsley benefits / Trick or Treatment Issue #24 Cold hot therapy / Aloe vera Issue #23 Maintenance Chiropractic Care / Ways to cook salmon ... 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.) Enter your E-mail Address Enter your First Name (optional) Then Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure. I promise to use it only to send you Chiropractic Help. WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS Did you find this page useful? Then perhaps forward WEIGHT LOSS FOR ARTHRITIS to a suffering friend. This site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or manage any illness. Please consult your chiropractor. The information is to the best of my ability at the time of writing accurate and correct. Queries, comments and corrections are very welcome. SBI!