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Arthritis and Obesity

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By Editorial Team

3 min read

People living with obesity are more likely to develop arthritis. Arthritis causes the joints to become stiff and painful. There are many different types of arthritis, and obesity is a risk factor for most types. Obesity can lead to arthritis by increasing pressure on the joints or by increasing inflammation in the body. Inflammation can damage the joints.1-3

For most of the common types of arthritis, obesity can:1,4

  • Increase the risk of developing arthritis
  • Make it more likely to develop arthritis early
  • Increase the severity of symptoms

Obesity adds extra pressure on the joints

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Living with obesity makes you more likely to develop OA.2,4

OA usually affects the joints in the knees. But it can also affect the joints in the hands, hips, spine, or any other joints. OA causes the breakdown of the cartilage found between the joints. Cartilage is a flexible tissue that protects the joints. When it is damaged, the joints become painful and harder to move.2,4

Having a high body weight adds extra pressure on the joints. Even a small increase in weight can add a lot of extra force on the joints. The joints in the knees and hips, in particular, experience extra stress due to the weight. This can wear down or damage the joints faster than normal.2,3

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Obesity increases inflammation

Adding pressure on the joints is not the only way obesity leads to arthritis. Obesity also increases inflammation.1-5

People living with obesity have extra fat stored in their body. This extra fat produces certain proteins and chemicals that can increase inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation, then, can cause the joints and cartilage to break down.1,5

This may explain why people with obesity are more likely to develop arthritis in their hands. Inflammation caused by obesity can affect the joints that are not directly affected by the extra body weight.1,5

Along with OA, increased inflammation due to obesity can impact other types of arthritis too. These conditions include:4

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) –RA is an autoimmune disorder. In people with RA, the immune system attacks healthy tissue. This causes inflammation, which can damage the joints. Extra body fat in people with obesity can increase this inflammation and make RA worse.
  • Psoriatic arthritis – This is an autoimmune disorder that affects people who have psoriasis. In people with psoriasis, the immune system attacks the skin. People with psoriasis who have obesity are more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis.
  • Gout – Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints. Obesity increases the amount of uric acid in the body, which increases the risk of developing gout.

Can arthritis cause obesity?

Both obesity and arthritis are very common health conditions. There are multiple ways that obesity can lead to arthritis. But it is also possible for arthritis to contribute to obesity. Some key ways this can happen are:1,6

  • Medicines – Some of the drugs used to treat arthritis can cause weight gain. Steroids like prednisone, which are used to reduce inflammation caused by arthritis, can increase body weight.
  • Decrease in physical activity – Arthritis can make it difficult to exercise. Even daily physical activities like walking may become painful due to arthritis. Lack of physical activity can then lead to weight gain.

How is arthritis treated?

In general, the risk of developing arthritis increases as body weight increases. So, losing any amount of weight can reduce your chances of developing arthritis.1-3

People with obesity who already have arthritis can benefit from losing weight because it can help prevent arthritis from getting worse. Losing weight can also help reduce the pain caused by arthritis.1-3

There are also many other treatment options that can help manage the pain and stiffness that come with arthritis. These can include:7

  • Arthritis medicine
  • Pain medicine
  • Massage
  • Acupuncture
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
  • And more

Talk to your doctor about what treatment options may be right for you.

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