If you have weak muscles around the knee and continue to gain weight year after year, you may find yourself spending a significant part of your life battling knee osteoarthritis that arrives far earlier than it should — and potentially facing an unexpected joint replacement surgery before you know it.
Can Losing Weight Really Improve Knee Osteoarthritis?
Research has shown that for women of average height, every 11 pounds (approximately 5 kg) lost reduces the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis by more than 50%. Weight loss alone has also been found to reduce knee pain — without the need for anti-inflammatory medication.
How Much of a Difference Does Losing Just 1 kg Make?
For every 1 kg reduction in body weight, the load on your knee joints decreases by 4 kg with each step — or 3,000 kg less pressure per kilometer walked. Given that the average person walks around 1.5 km per day, even losing just 1 kg can dramatically reduce the cumulative impact on your knees every single day.
What If You Can’t Lose Weight?
Can’t lose weight? Don’t worry. Focus on weight maintenance instead — simply preventing further weight gain each year already makes a difference. For those who are significantly overweight and unable to lose weight through conventional means, addressing other risk factors becomes essential. Sleeve Gastrectomy (stomach reduction surgery) is also worth considering as an option.
For more information, consult our specialists at the Surgery Center, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya — Tel. 0 3825 9999
