Effect of Weight Gain and Weight Loss on Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis

Obesity is a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis (OA) in weight-bearing joints. In this study from the longitudinal U.S. Osteoarthritis Initiative, researchers used data from 2800 participants (age range, 45–79) to take a closer look at the effects of weight gain and weight loss on development and progression of knee and hip OA.

During a 4-year period, about 11% of participants had radiographic evidence of progressive osteoarthritic changes in the knee. Compared with people who had no weight change, those with >5% weight gain were more likely to have radiographic progression, and those with >5% weight loss were less likely (odds ratios, 1.29 and 0.69, respectively). Among those with weight gain who had progressive changes, medial joint…