Researchers at the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) 2022 World Congress reported that an increase in body weight showed to worsen the radiographic features of the knee in knee Osteoarthritis, but not hip. 

The researchers used data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI), which included 3,000 people with Osteoarthritis OA, divided into three groups: those who gained at least 5% of their body weight (n = 714), those who lost at least 5% of their body weight (n = 1,553), and those who lost at least 5% of their body weight over 4 years.

When compared to controls, a higher than 5% rise in body weight over four years was linked with a 29 percent increased risk of medial joint space narrowing (JSN) (P =.038). There was also a 34% higher chance of experiencing frequent knee pain (P =.009). There were no variations in the rates of total hip or knee arthroplasties between the groups, and no differences in hip radiographic or symptomatic changes between the weight gain and weight loss groups and controls.

Weight loss, on the other hand, appears to give some protection against structural damage in knee OA. At the 4-year follow-up, people who lost more than 5% of their body weight were less likely to have a worsening Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grade than those who kept their weight. Weight loss was also linked to a higher chance of experiencing knee pain resolution over a year, with anodds ratio OR of 1.40 (P =.019). (Medscape, April 15, 2022)