Being overweight or obese can put added stress on joints. Every one pound of weight puts three to four pounds of pressure on your knees. For people with knee osteoarthritis (which occurs when the cushioning cartilage that covers the ends of bones in joints wears down), losing weight can ease pain by relieving some of the pressure. A study published in
Arthritis Care & Research (June 2018) found that the greater the weight loss the greater the pain relief. The study included 240 overweight or obese adults with knee osteoarthritis who were in an 18-month weight-loss study. Participants who lost 10 percent or more of their body weight had a 50 percent reduction in knee pain. Those who lost the most weight (20 percent or more of their body weight) experienced the greatest reduction in pain, as well as improvements in function and quality of life.
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