Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in recent years, a trend that could have serious ramifications for our healthcare system.
The Arthroplasty for Arthritis Charity wholeheartedly supports the endeavours to change people’s lives for the better, and we are supporting further research in relation to the hip joint.
What does the rise in obesity mean?
502 million people worldwide are classified as obese. It’s a problem that’s affecting most Western countries. Right now, around 30% of the UK population are obese, and it’s estimated that around 50% of Americans will be obese by 2030.
Another startling statistic is that the proportion of people worldwide with a body mass index (BMI) above 25 has increased from 23% to 34% over the last 20 years.
Obesity is linked to serious health issues including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, strokes, sleep apnoea, gallbladder disease, hyperuricaemia and gout, certain cancers, infertility, asthma and dyslipidaemia.
It is also one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
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The link between obesity and arthritis
The risk of arthritis in obese people is seven times higher, compared with those who are underweight or have a healthy weight. Obesity is especially associated with a higher prevalence of hip and knee arthritis. And obese patients with arthritis report more pain, greater stiffness and worse function.
Excessive weight may also impact the alignment of the knees and cause bowing or knock knee variation. This can put more pressure on the joints and exacerbate the issue further, leading to more pain, issues with mobility and the need for future total joint replacements.
Unfortunately, the success rate of lower limb total joint replacements is negatively affected by excess weight.
What this means for obese people with arthritis
Studies show that concurrent obesity and joint disease has a marked impact on mental health and wellbeing.
Overweight people are already at a higher risk of developing depression over their lifetime. There is even a higher chance of developing bipolar disorders, and panic disorders such as agoraphobia. Combine this with debilitating mobility issues, and it can become a dangerous mental health issue.
That’s why this problem requires urgent public health attention and individual focus on eating habits and lifestyle, which have been exacerbated by the recent coronavirus pandemic.
By educating, encouraging and making it as easy as possible for people to make healthier decisions, we can help change people’s lives in various ways, as well as reduce the strain on our healthcare system.
What is Arthroplasty for Arthritis doing to help?
As a Charity we support the engagement in regular physical activity which has a significant impact on reducing obesity and has also been adopted by the World Health Organisation in their “Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier world."
The Arthroplasty for Arthritis Charity acknowledges that obesity and mental health issues are indelibly linked, and supports musculoskeletal (MSK) research that makes a difference to people’s lives.
Get involved or donate to furthering critical research today by visiting our Just Giving page.