The Impact of Obesity on Pain, Bone, and Joint Health

Obesity, commonly referred to as excessive or abnormal fat accumulation, which poses a significant health risk, is one of the greatest concerns among the world population. With poor dietary choices and mindless eating to satisfy the flavors in the mouth, it is not necessary that excessive eating can lead to obesity. 

Excessive consumption of fast or processed food with a lack of exercise or physical movement is one of the causes of obesity; however, genetics, medical conditions, and environment also play a role in increasing weight.

It is known that obesity can lead to hypertension, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, and others; however, do you know it can affect joint health as well? Obesity interferes with bone metabolism through different mechanical, hormonal, and inflammatory factors. 

Let's understand how obesity affects joint health and how losing weight through conservative therapies or surgical treatment can assist in reducing the chance of diseases caused as a side-effect of obesity or excessive weight. 

Understanding the Relation Between Body Weight and Joint Pain

Joint pain is one of the common complaints among the obese population. Obesity is linked to the mechanical stress exerted on weight-bearing joints. Every pound of body weight exerts around 4-6 pounds of pressure on each knee joint. Obese individuals are 20 times more prone to get a knee replacement as compared to individuals with healthy weight. 

Excessive body weight disturbs the joints, especially the joints that support day-to-day activities like walking, standing, bending, etc. This body load accelerates the wear and tear. This wear and tear contributes to some of the conditions, like osteoarthritis. 

Besides affecting joint health, obesity can affect bone density. Obese people have differences in bone quality, which increases the risk of bone fracture. Here are different reasons that obesity can affect bone quality or density: 

• Obesity affects the mechanism which assists in bone remodeling. 
• Individuals with excessive weight have type 2 diabetes, which increases the risk of bone fracture. 
• The obese body produces certain chemicals that attack the bones and weaken them. 
• Fat cells and bone-reforming cells are produced from the same stem cell. So, if fat cell formation increases, bone-formation cell production reduces, leading to poor-quality bones. 

How is Obesity one of the Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis?

Obesity and osteoarthritis are interlinked. Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disorder. The link between obesity and osteoarthritis is that osteoarthritis is increasingly caused in obese individuals as the cartilage is damaged faster in obese individuals. 

It is caused by the gradual breakdown of the cartilage, which leads to the rubbing of the bones against each other and causes pain, stiffness, and reduced joint mobility. There is an acceleration in the wear and tear of cartilage. Cartilage, important for smooth joint movement, is damaged faster in obese individuals. It leads to an increased risk of osteoarthritis.

 Other than this, there is another cause for osteoarthritis: the inflammatory substance produced by the adipose tissue. These inflammatory substances contribute to the chronic inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, increasing the pain and damaging joint health. 

Can Losing Weight Benefit Bone and Joint Health?

Obesity is nothing but excessive weight. So, by reducing weight, individuals can prevent the consequences of obesity. Weight loss plays a significant role in reducing the burden on the joints. It improves the overall bone and joint health. 

Reducing excess weight directly reduces the mechanical stress on weight-bearing joints. It slows down the onset of osteoarthritis. It also helps improve posture and joint alignments and decreases inflammation, which helps manage and reduce joint pain. 

Treatments to Lose Weight

Several effective treatments can aid in weight loss and promote bone and joint health:

1. Dietary Modifications

Get a balanced diet rich in whole foods and low in processed fats and sugars. Adopting a balanced calorie-controlled diet is essential for weight loss.

2. Regular Exercise

Follow regular exercises with the help of professionals or expert coaches focusing on weight loss. The exercises can include aerobic exercises and strength training exercises. It helps in improving the metabolism, which in turn burns calories. So if exercise is practiced regularly without any miss, the body will be more aligned to become slim and fit. 

2. Behavioral Therapy

This therapy focuses on changing habits by promoting mindful eating. It also makes suitable changes in the psychological factors that cause overeating.

3. Surgeries 

In some severe cases, surgical procedures are required under healthcare professionals' guidance. These kinds of treatments are done for patients with severe obesity and health risks. Some surgeries include gastric sleeve resection and balloon gastric bypass. It is usually the last resort when the other therapies do not work and obesity is negatively impacting the body. 

4. Lifestyle Modifications

One must strictly follow a modified lifestyle to reduce weight. Lifestyle changes may include adequate sleep, sedentary behaviour, and stress management.

Tips to Manage Weight and Improve Bone Health 

Maintaining a healthy weight promotes optimal bone and joint health. Here are a few tips to manage weight and improve the well-being of your bones:

1. Ensure you consume a well-balanced diet with all the vitamins, proteins, and nutrients. 
2. Besides, make a weekly routine of different exercises that will be aligned to help you lose weight. 
3. Be aware of the amount of food you consume, so use smaller plates to avoid overeating. Drinking a glass of water half an hour before the meal is best to ensure your stomach is full and you do not indulge in excessive eating. 
4. Drinking water regularly is essential for joint health as it supports overall health and aids in managing weight. 
5. Avoid the intake of excessive alcohol and caffeine as it impacts the bone health of the body. Suddenly eliminating the caffeine can cause headaches; that's why it is better to limit and reduce the intake to avoid any complications. 
6. Smoking is injurious to health as it can have adverse effects on bone health. Quitting smoking helps to keep all your organs and bones healthy.

Wrapping up, 

Whether it is a child or an adult, being overweight or obese can have a negative impact on your overall health and body, deteriorating the quality of life significantly. Besides bone health, it can lead to chronic heart issues, sleep apnea, liver disease, pancreatitis, certain tumors and cancers, and psychiatric disorders. And with time, these complications will increase. So, without wasting any moment, finding a solution or routine to get your weight back on track is essential. 

Most times, rigorous exercise routines and diets can assist in shedding kilos of weight within a few months; however, in some cases, these methods don't work. However, don't lose hope. Apollo Spectra's specialized and advanced treatments are available, which can assist in managing and maintaining your weight. If you are struggling with obesity, visit your nearest Apollo Spectra Hospital and find a solution for your overweight today!