EFFECTS OF WEIGHT CHANGE ON KNEE AND HIP RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS AND PAIN OVER 4 YEARS: DATA FROM THE OSTEOARTHRITIS INITIATIVE

Abstract

Purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) is present in 10.5% of the US population, often affects large weight-bearing joints such as the hip and knee, and its prevalence increases with higher levels of BMI. Since obesity is a modifiable risk factor for OA, understanding the effects of weight gain and weight loss on hip and knee OA is critical for the development of effective, long-term therapeutic strategies for OA. While studies have shown beneficial effects of weight loss on knee OA including reduced symptomatic outcomes, slower progression of MRI structural outcomes, less inflammation, less knee joint mechanical loads, and reduced serum markers for cartilage degradation, fewer studies have investigated the effects of weight gain on knee OA.