Arthritis is inflammation in one or more joints in someone’s body, and this inflammation then causes pain and stiffness that can worsen with age. According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is a disease that impacts more than 50 million Americans.
May is National Arthritis Awareness Month, and to help spread awareness about this weight-related condition, we want to share why it’s important that you know about this health condition in connection with your weight management goals.
Here’s some things you should know about how arthritis and other conditions are connected to your weight:
- Arthritis: As the smooth surface called “cartilage” on the ends of bones becomes damaged or worn due to excess weight, you will start to feel pain and stiffness in the joint.
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Osteoarthritis: A chronic and progressive joint disease that’s caused by increased force across the joint and other pro-inflammatory factors, such as inflammation throughout the body.
- Tendonitis: The extra pressure placed on the joints by weight gain can cause the tendon to become inflamed.
- Bursitis: This can develop after an injury or due to frequent repetitive motions (overuse), but it can also result from being affected by excess weight.
- Chronic Pain: As your weight increases, you are more likely to have chronic pain syndrome. Part of the problem can probably be explained by the increased strain that the extra weight puts on the joints.
By working toward better weight and health, you can look forward to a better quality of life because losing weight will relieve many of these health conditions. Even modest weight-loss has been shown to have great results in improving your health, and as you are losing weight you may also find relief from any bone or joint-related conditions you may feel now.
Interested in learning more about the effects of weight on your bones? Check out these resources from the Obesity Action Coalition, the organization who proudly brings to you the Your Weight Matters Campaign:
