Knee problems are rampant in obese and overweight patients. It is also one of the potential causes of immobility in adults and senior citizens. Obesity has led to bone and joint problems, cartilage breakdown, and ultimately osteoarthritis. It is essential to maintain an optimum weight to prevent knee problems. Aside from diet and exercise, weight loss surgery can aid obese patients diagnosed with knee problems.
Obesity will not only lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or sleep apnea but also knee problems. When one becomes overweight or obese, there is additional pressure on the knee joints which takes a toll on the cartilage in the knees. This can cause the wear-and-tear of the cartilage. Less cartilage suggests poorer cushioning, which could lead to various knee problems and conditions. Knee problems are debilitating and can leave one bedridden for life.
Anamika Sharma (Name Change) a 50-year-old from Mumbai, weighing 96 kgs with a BMI of 37.5 was detected with thyroid and osteoarthritis. She was advised total knee replacement (TKR), but after the surgery her weight reduced and all her health issues started to resolve. She didn't require TKR anymore as the excess weight/fat on her body was gone and she could walk and exercise properly. There are many patients like this who are suffering miserably due to obesity and other health conditions associated with it. It is the need of the hour to stay fit, maintain optimum weight, and stay in top shape throughout life.
Dr Manish Motwani, Chief Bariatric Surgeon - Aastha Bariatrics -Centre of Excellence in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery said, “Obesity is associated with an elevated risk of an array of chronic diseases. The implications for the musculoskeletal system include both degenerative and inflammatory conditions, with the greatest burden resulting from osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a clinical syndrome of joint pain and dysfunction caused by joint degeneration and affects more people than any other joint disease. OA is one of the most prevalent comorbidities of obesity, and obesity is now recognized as an important modifiable risk factor for OA, as well as a factor that can accelerate knee OA. Carrying extra body weight in OA creates a harmful load on joints. Over the last two years, among 2,000 OPD patients above 40, 80% complained of knee pain. Obesity has been linked with higher rates of surgical complications and early postoperative complications in patients undergoing TKR, as well as with longer hospital stays for these patients. The success rate of the TKR surgery increased in patients who had undergone bariatric surgery as the weight reduces the pressure on the knee and better mobility is achieved.”
Being overweight increases your chances of early wear and tear of the knees but it is not the primary cause of OA knees. Muscle and bone strengthening can definitely help in preventing early OA, said Dr Rakesh Nair, consultant knee replacement surgeon at Zen Multispecialty Hospital, Chembur.
Dr Motwani added, “The good news is that most or all of these problems can be remedied by reducing weight. Losing just 10% of your body weight can cut arthritis pain in half. Losing 20% can cut arthritis pain by another 25% or more. It may also slow or even stop disease progression. Weight loss has been shown to improve pain and function in hip and knee joints with osteoarthritis. Bariatric surgery currently is the only evidence-based approach to marked weight loss in obese individuals. Before surgery, at least two-thirds of patients have some arthritic complaints. Following surgery, almost everyone improves, many quite sharply, and some of them after a few months. More than half of patients who had problems moving before surgery did not have mobility problems afterward. Obese patients need to maintain an ideal weight, exercise daily, and eat a well-balanced diet. If one’s BMI is above 30, bariatric surgery might be a good idea. It is a game changer and an effective way of treating obesity, not just in decreasing weight, but also tackling comorbidities and improving the survival of patients with severe obesity.”
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