Joint Pain and Obesity

An estimated $45 billion is spent annually in the U.S. on treating diseases associated with being overweight. With obesity on the rise and more than half of American adults currently overweight or obese, this will have its own impact on joint pain. Experts say that being overweight increases the load placed on the joints, which could possibly speed up cartilage wear and tear. According to Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, being only 10 pounds overweight increases the force on the knee by 30-60 pounds with each step. Population studies have shown a relationship of being overweight as a factor in developing osteoarthritis of the knee (Anderson, 1988).