Weight loss can be beneficial to the whole body, even the knee

• A new study shows that for each pound of body weight lost, there is a 4-pound reduction in knee joint stress among overweight and obese people with osteoarthritis of the knee.
• Researchers say the results indicate that even modest weight loss may significantly lighten the load on your joints.
• "The accumulated reduction in knee load for a 1-pound loss in weight would be more than 4,800 pounds per mile walked," writes researcher Stephen P. Messier, PhD, of Wake Forest University in the July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
• "For people losing 10 pounds, each knee would be subjected to 48,000 pounds less in compressive load per mile walked."
• Although there are no studies that have shown weight loss can slow the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers say a reduction of pressure on the joints of this magnitude would appear to have a major impact on the disease.
• Obesity is one of the most important risk factors for osteoarthritis of the knee.
• Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. The disease progressively destroys the cartilage that acts like a shock absorber in the joints and results in pain, stiffness, and eventually loss of movement in the affected joint.
• The study involved 142 overweight and obese older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee who participated in an 18 month weight loss program.
• By the end of the weight loss program, the participants lost an average of nearly 3% of their body weight.
• But when researchers measured the load on the knee joints, they found that each pound of weight loss was associated with a 4 pound reduction in knee-joint load.
• Accumulated over thousands of steps taken each day, researchers say the effects of this reduction of pressure on the knees should have a significant impact on the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee.