Published on: 7/30/2025
How does obesity worsen joint pain and osteoarthritis?
Obesity can make joint pain and osteoarthritis worse because it adds extra weight to the joints and can also cause hormonal changes that affect the joints.
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Explanation
Obesity can make joint pain and osteoarthritis worse in a few ways. First, carrying extra weight puts more stress on the joints, especially the knees. This extra pressure can wear down the cartilage, which is the cushion in the joints, leading to pain and stiffness.
Additionally, obesity can cause hormonal changes in the body. These changes can increase inflammation, which is when your body reacts to injury or harm. Inflammation can make joint pain worse and speed up the damage to the joints.
In summary, obesity affects joint health by both mechanical stress and hormonal changes. Managing weight can help reduce the strain on your joints and may help with reducing pain and slowing down the progression of osteoarthritis.
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(References)
- Vijayan S, & Margesan T. (2025). Hormonal Imbalance in Obesity and Arthritis. Current rheumatology reviews, 38623986.
- Timmins KA, Leech RD, Batt ME, & Edwards KL. (2017). Running and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review .... The American journal of sports medicine, 27519678.
- Georgescu B, Cristea AE, Oprea D, Lupu AA, Stanciu LE, Borgazi E, et al. (2024). Current Evidence on and Clinical Implications of Vitamin D .... Clinics and practice, 39451873.
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