Being obese is often associated with a number of health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.
Obesity and Arthritis
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 3 obese Americans suffer from arthritis. The most common of which is osteoarthritis (OA).
OA is a type of arthritis characterized by the breakdown of cartilage. The cartilage is a vital structural component. It’s a tough but flexible tissue found in many areas of the body, including the joints between the bones.
Being obese increases your risk of developing OA. It’s because the more weight you have, the more stress it adds on the joints, causing them to eventually wear out and get damaged.
Every pound of excess weight adds about 4 lbs of extra pressure on the knees. So if you’re 10 lbs overweight, you’re exerting 40 lbs added pressure on your knee joints.
Joint Replacement for Obese Patients
When one’s arthritis is really bad, the doctor may recommend a joint replacement surgery. However, obese patients being evaluated for such surgery are often advised to come back once they’ve lost weight.
Obesity poses several risks for surgery-related complications. Several studies have pointed out that infections and dislocations are higher among obese patients compared to those on a healthy weight.
For Dr.K. Robert Williams of New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville, losing weight through bariatric surgery may benefit patients who are recommended for joint surgery:
“Specifically for a joint surgery, we have people referred from an orthopedic surgeon because they need a knee or hip replacement, but are deemed to be too obese to have that operation because of the risk. Sometimes after bariatric surgery, their joint condition has improved so much that they don’t need joint replacement right away but if they do, oftentimes the risk for infection and even the longevity of the joint to be replaced improved.”
Is being obese keep you from getting the recommended surgical treatment for you? Have you tried losing weight in the past but still unsuccessful in doing so?
If you think you are a candidate and interested in bariatric/weight loss surgery, New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery can help you. The first step is to attend or view our informational Bariatric Seminar. Click this link to get started today! https://www.newlifebariatricsurgery.com/info-sessions/
New LIfe Center for Bariatric Surgery is part of Premier Surgical Bariatrics. New Life is associated with the Parkwest Center for Bariatric Surgery, Parkwest Medical Center is a member of Covenant Health and Covenant Bariatric Services in Knoxville, TN.
References:
https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/comorbidities/obesity-arthritis/fat-and-arthritis.php