Being overweight contributes to a number of serious health issues, including joint damage. People often associate joint discomfort, stiffness and loss of flexibility with the aging process. However, joint problems can occur in overweight people of any age. According to Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, a mere 10 lbs. of extra body weight adds 30 to 60 lbs. of force on weight-bearing joints. If you suffer from chronic joint pain, talk to your physician about treatment options and a weight loss program.
Causes Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis refers to a painful hip disorder, affecting young adults during accelerated growth spurts. The growth plate, or physis, is sandwiched between the top of the thighbone and base of the connecting ball joint. The physis can shift, causing the ball joint to dislocate within the hip socket. While SCFE can occur in healthy teens, overweight bodies exert more pressure on the growth plate, increasing the risk of injury. SCFE symptoms include limping, pain and a change in leg position. In extreme cases, it can lead to permanent hip damage. Treatment for SCFE involves inserting a surgical pin to stabilize the thighbone.
Increases Cartilage Tears
A research team from the University of Utah's Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational Environmental Health, studied the link between body weight and cartilage tears. The research, conducted between 1996 and 2000, followed patients between the ages of 50 and 79 who had undergone surgery for a torn meniscus, the thick cushioning layer of knee cartilage. The study concluded that even individuals with a body mass index a few points above the ideal range tripled their risk of cartilage tears. Men with the highest BMIs in the control group increased their likelihood for cartilage tears 15 times. The risk of torn cartilage was greater among the heaviest women, representing a 25-fold increase.
Contributes to Osteoarthritis
Researchers have discovered a correlation between obesity and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative form of arthritis, commonly affects the hands, hips, knees, feet and, occasionally, the lower back. Deterioration of cartilage causes pain, stiffness and tenderness around affected joints. The added stress on joints produced by extra weight, exacerbates cartilage erosion. In addition, carrying excess body fat can increase inflammation, increasing the chances for developing osteoarthritis.
Slows Joint Recovery
Years of undue pressure on your joints from extra body weight may lead to joint replacement surgery later in life. Hip and knee replacement surgery have become increasingly common among aging baby boomers. Joint replacement surgery successfully repairs damaged joints in patients of healthy weight. Overweight patients who undergo knee or hip replacement surgery run a greater risk of complications, such as infection and blood clots. Extra weight can hinder physical therapy and can eventually loosen the replacement joint. All of these factors can greatly slow recovery time and compromise your health.
References
- Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center; Joint Pain Is Strongly Associated with Body Weight; Susan Bartlett, Ph.D.
- KidsHealth; When Being Overweight Is a Health Problem; Mary L. Gavin, M.D.; October 2010
- KidsHealth; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis; Alfred Atanda Jr., M.D.; April 2010
- azcentral.com: Obesity Bad for Knees; Associated Press; May 2005
- "American Journal of Preventative Medicine"; Associations of Body Mass Index with Meniscal Tears; Gregory M. Ford, M.S.P.H.; May 2005
- Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center; Obesity Is a Risk Factor for Osteoarthritis; Susan Bartlett, Ph.D.
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