An increase in body weight appears to have a detrimental effect on some radiographic features of knee, but not hip, osteoarthritis, researchers reported at the OARSI 2022 World Congress.
Using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI), researchers from the University of California found that a greater than 5% increase in body weight over 4 years was associated with a 29% increased risk for medial joint space narrowing (JSN), compared with controls (P = .038). There was also a 34% increased risk for developing frequent knee pain (P = .009).
Conversely, weight loss appeared to offer some protection from structural damage in knee OA, Gabby B. Joseph, PhD, a specialist in radiology and biomedical imaging, said at the congress, sponsored by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International.
Indeed, individuals who had achieved a weight loss of more than 5% at 4-year follow up were less likely to have a worsened Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grade than those whose body weight remained the same (odds ratio, 0.69, P = .009).
Weight loss was also associated with a higher change of experiencing resolution in knee pain over 12 months, with an OR of 1.40 (P = .019).
Importance of weight change in OA
“We know that weight loss has beneficial effects on knee OA symptoms, such as pain relief and improvement in physical function,” commented
