Researchers conducting long-term follow ups of adults given knee X-rays found that a decrease in body mass index (BMI) was associated with both a lower incidence of the structural defects of knee osteoarthritis. Published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, also found reduced odds of these defects progressing.
In the study radiographic analyses were conducted of adults’ knees with and without the structural defects of knee osteoarthritis at baseline and at 4 to 5 years’ follow up from adults. A total of 9683 knees (from 5774 individuals) were assessed in an ‘incidence cohort’ along with 6075 knees (from 3988 individuals) in a ‘progression cohort.’
The researchers observed that a 1-unit drop in BMI was linked to a 4.76% reduction in odds of the incidence and progression of knee osteoarthritis. A 5-unit BMI drop, which can downgrade a BMI category (eg, from overweight to normal), reduced the odds of incidence and progression by 21.65%.
“These findings could be empowering for people with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis,” said lead author Zubeyir Salis, BEng, and a PhD student for Public Health at the University of New South Wales in Australia. “The current prevailing view is that knee osteoarthritis is part of ageing and that we have no control over it. However, my analyses suggest that some people could potentially prevent, slow or delay knee osteoarthritis by losing weight.”
Source: Wiley
