Research
Energy balance
Obesity is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis, particularly affecting the knees, hips, and lower back, due to mechanical stress and inflammation.
Excess body weight puts significant mechanical stress on your joints, particularly your knees, hips, and lower back, accelerating the wear and tear that leads to osteoarthritis. Losing weight is one of the most effective ways to reduce joint pain and improve mobility.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Osteoarthritis associated with obesity affects the knees, hips, and the lower back by placing extra pressure on these joints and wearing away the cartilage[44].
Why this rating
Cites epidemiological data and expert opinions.
Source
The rising prevalence of obesity: part A: impact on public health
Maliha Agha et al. · International Journal of Surgery Oncology · 2017
DOI 10.1097/ij9.0000000000000017
narrative_reviewCited 351×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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