A variety of diseases and disorders are often associated with being overweight, including many types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the excruciating pain in the big toe called gout.
If you are struggling with chronic joint pain and stiffness, your symptoms may improve after you lose unwanted pounds.
What does losing weight mean for joint health?
There are four main issues:
1. Losing weight means less stress on joints
Millions of people suffer from a degenerative joint problem called osteoarthritis. In this condition, the cartilage that normally allows the ends of bones to slide easily and comfortably against each other wears down and breaks down, creating painful friction in the joints. The more stress on the affected joints, the more damage they can cause.
Being overweight only makes OA worse, especially in the weight-bearing joints of the spine, hips, knees, and ankles. Obese people are four to five times more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis than the general population. If you’re carrying too much weight, losing just 10 percent of your body weight can cut your joint pain in half.
2. Losing Weight Can Reduce Inflammation and Swelling
Excess fat can cause more inflammation and swelling. Fat cells produce inflammatory substances that can cause low-grade, systemic inflammation. This widespread inflammation can worsen rheumatoid arthritis as well as other autoimmune conditions like psoriatic arthritis and lupus.
When you shed excess weight, you can also reduce the inflammation and swelling that impair your mobility and comfort. A sensible weight loss plan that helps you lose fat also helps you reduce systemic inflammation in every part of your body, including your inflamed joints.
3. A healthy weight can reduce your risk of co-morbid conditions
One health problem can promote other related health problems, creating a cluster of problems collectively known as a syndrome. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoarthritis all seem to contribute to a problem called metabolic syndrome. All of these conditions increase each other’s inflammatory effects.
When you control your weight with a medically supervised diet and exercise plan, you can better control these different conditions. An anti-inflammatory diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and fiber over trans fats, sugar, and highly processed foods can help eliminate both excess weight and inflammation.
4. Being Underweight Can Make Arthritis Worse
While unhealthy weight loss can relieve arthritis symptoms for many people, losing too little weight can also cause problems in its own way. Research suggests that underweight people with rheumatoid arthritis may have more severe joint damage than obese RA patients, possibly due to its effects on an inflammatory protein called adiponectin.
Rheumatoid arthritis and its treatment can lead to excessive, unwanted weight loss. For example, the drug leflunomide can cause digestive upset, promoting diarrhea and weight loss. Arthritis itself can make you less likely to exercise, which can cause you to lose muscle mass.
If your symptoms get worse even as you lose weight, a rheumatologist can help. Possible solutions may include switching to a different RA medication and making changes to your diet. Regular exercise can help you maintain muscle mass while reducing arthritis, pain, and stiffness.
