Osteoarthritis and Obesity – Excess Weight Increases Your Risk For Developing Osteoarthritis

August 18, 2010

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder and while it is still unclear how being overweight influences this condition, studies show that excess weight is an established risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knee, causing a 3-4 fold increased risk of primary joint replacement. It is estimated that about 56% of obese people suffer from major knee pain, in comparison to 15% of people who are not overweight. Studies also show that overweight people additionally stand a higher chance of developing hip and hand osteoarthritis.

Does Excess Weight Accelerate the Breakdown of Cartilage?

It is certainly understood that excess weight increases the load placed on the joints, thus increasing the stress and possibly hastening the breakdown of cartilage. It was found that severely obese men were 15 times as likely to have torn cartilage, with severely obese women being 25 times as likely. Each step taken on level ground places 1 to 2 times the body weight on each knee, with the burden going up to 2 or 3 times as much when going up and down stairs and 4 or 5 times as much when squatting.

Will Weight Loss Reduce the Risk of Osteoarthritis?

Studies clearly show that enough weight loss reduces the rate of knee arthritis in both men and women, in addition to alleviating symptoms such as pain and stiffness. Each pound lost reduces knee pressure in every step taken and one study found that the risk of developing osteoarthritis decreased by 50% with each eleven pound weight loss among younger obese women. Research also showed that knee osteoarthritis would decrease by a fifth in older men who went from obese to just overweight, and by a third in older women. While total joint replacement is an effective treatment for severe knee and hip osteoarthritis, reducing inflammation, relieving pain, protecting the joint from further damage and building strength in the muscles that support the joint can often improve joint function.

Losing Weight Can Support Your Joints and Reduce Pain

Losing weight can be a challenge for many people, but it may seem even more daunting when coping with painful arthritis symptoms. However, losing excess pounds can have a big impact on how you feel by alleviating pressure placed on joints during physical activity, plus possibly helping to reduce circulating cytokines, which promote inflammation. Avoiding particular motions or ignoring the pain will not make it go away and is likely to cause a rapid progress of symptoms. Limited movement will weaken the muscles, compounding the joint problem, plus affect your posture thus creating further difficulties. Developing a program that is suited to your level of fitness and health is extremely important and can be done with the support of a physician, physical therapist or exercise physiologist. The right program can be a lasting way to reduce and control joint pain and may even help delay or avoid the need for surgery.

Eating a Healthy Diet to Lose Weight and Reduce Inflammation

Research shows a special link between food and the symptoms of arthritis, with certain foods helping to control the destruction of joints and others helping to relieve pain. An anti-osteoarthritis diet contains foods filled with antioxidants and bioflavonoid as well as foods high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Following a healthy diet by concentrating on lower-fat, nutrient-rich foods and plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help to reduce inflammation and maintain a balanced weight thus reducing strain on the joints.

Finding a Weight Loss Meal Plan

August 11, 2010

I think everyone has experienced the feeling of looking in the mirror and sighing in disappointment as you look at all the extra pounds you’ve put on through the years. You leaf through your yearbook in high school and wonder what happened to that fit young gal in that black and white photo. Is there any way to get back to that shapely figure in the picture?

Thankfully, there is such a way. You can have the body that you want with a little exercise and dieting. The problem with that is not all diets are made equal. You need to have the perfect weight loss meal plan for you to really shed off those pounds. And actually, it’s not the weight you need to lose – it’s all that extra fat.

The first idea that pops into a woman’s head when it comes to a dieting plan is to just eat smaller portions. However, this is not the way to lose it and keep it off. You will just get all that weight back – and then some — after your dieting period ends.

You’ll need to have a proper dieting plan to get rid of that extra fat and keep it off.

Too Many Choices Leads To Confusion

Unfortunately, there seem to be too many diets available on the market. This can get very confusing for anyone who’s new to all this weight loss stuff and just wants a simple way to drop a few dress sizes.

And, there are a few facts you need to know about these diets. Some of them are flash-in-the-pan celebrity diets; just ways for some celeb to get a little money on the side. Often, they have you buy stuff from an exclusive supplier or something similar. This is just a waste of your money.

Low fat and low calorie diets don’t work – your body needs fat and calories; you’ll just end up hurting yourself in the end.

Low-carb diets are not the way to go either because carbohydrates are brain food. Starving your body of carbohydrates (sugars) also means starving you brain of the fuel it needs to function properly. Not something most of us can afford to do!

Still, other plans are too complicated for most people and require you to buy specific foods – not exactly a great idea in this economy.

A few plans work perfectly – but they take time and quite a bit of effort.

This Is What You Want

You want a meal planning system that gives you maximum effect with minimum impact to your current lifestyle