Can Losing Weight Help Arthritic Knees?

Can Losing Weight Help Arthritic Knees?

Yes, according to a growing body of research.

The latest investigation,¹ from scientists at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, followed 240 overweight and obese individuals with painful knee osteoarthritis for 18 months.

The participants’ mean age was 66. In the study, they adopted a healthy lifestyle similar to the Pritikin Program. They ate a lot of whole foods, like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, that are naturally low in fat and calories. They also started exercising regularly, including both aerobic and strength training.

After 18 months, the 240 adults were divided into four groups based on the weight loss they had achieved:

• The top losers: 20% or more of total body weight lost
• Between 10 and 19.9% of body weight lost
• Between 5 and 9.9% of body weight lost
• Less than 5% of body weight lost

Sources

• ¹Arthritis Care & Research, June 18, 2018: doi.org, wiley.com
• ² Wake Forest University News: June 18, 2018
• ³ New England Journal of Medicine, 2002; 347: 81.
• ⁴ Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences, 2013; 5 (1): 30.
• ⁵ Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 2012 March; (3): 436.