The Weight Loss-Knee Pain Connection

Weight Loss Surgery Could Mean Less Pain for those with Knee Injuries.

Obesity opens the door to risk for a huge variety of different ailments and diseases. Heart disease and diabetes may get the most attention, but they are far from being the only risks. When you are overweight or obese your body is put under a great deal of pressure, and this can mean pain, inflammation, and even injury. The joints are perhaps the most susceptible to different issues that cause pain, whether as a result of arthritis or from injury.

The Connection Between Knee Injuries and Obesity

Knee injuries are one of the most common causes of pain among those struggling with obesity. According to researchers out of the UK, those who have a BMI of 27 or above are three times more likely to develop a knee injury than someone of a healthy weight level. Obesity also increases your risk of developing osteoarthritis, which can affect any joint in the body, including the wrists, shoulders and hips, but will often affect the knees, as well.

Weight Loss Surgery Improves Knee Replacement Surgery Outcomes

Those who have had knee injuries in the past know the pain that comes from even a seemingly minor concern. Being unable to walk or move around freely can lead to frustration and will make even minor tasks difficult to accomplish. Carrying extra body fat makes it more difficult for a knee injury to heal properly, as well, which means there is a greater risk of an injury returning or becoming a chronic concern.

For those who struggle with chronic knee pain, knee replacement surgery could be the only option to completely alleviate pain and restore function and strength to the joint. However, for those who are overweight or obese, knee replacement surgery may not be enough. Getting a knee replacement while still overweight or obese may not be as effective as it could be otherwise, because the continued pressure from excess body weight will continue putting excess pressure on the joint.

Recently, researchers have found that getting weight loss surgery prior to knee replacement surgery can actually lead to greater results in the knees ability to heal fully.