To take a closer look at India’s population, certain facts worry doctors and the prime of it all is obesity. At least 29.8 million Indians are obese with women totaling up to 20 million. According to a study published in the British medical journal, the Lancet in 2014, Indian women are more likely to become obese than males, and the reality tells it all.

Understanding Obesity?

The accumulation of fatty tissue in the different regions of the body is termed as obesity. An individual is confirmed obese in case his or her body weight is 20% higher than it ought to be. Normally, your BMI (Body Mass Index) derived from your height and weight dictates whether you are obese or not.

A normal BMI is considered to be below 30, however, any person with a BMI between 25 and 29 is considered overweight, and this isn’t acceptable healthwise. Therefore, a normal BMI/body weight must be 24 and below to eliminate possible health risks like joint damage

What’s the Impact of Obesity on Joints?

The excess fat that surrounds the joints exerts more pressure on the joint, something that not only induces havoc on the joints, but also accelerates the rate of arthritis. In the real sense, obesity worsens arthritis “Osteoarthritis”.

The more your joint is stressed the more your chances of experiencing damage, wear and tear of the joint. These will also be escalated by a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and poor nutrition

Studies confirm that osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition of the joint is linked to obesity, which will certainly require a hip or knee replacement in the future to correct the joint. The normal activity and movement that circulate the joint fluid promotes cartilage health and also strengthens the bones, while pressure induced by the fat will only reduce function

In 2016, studies indicated that more women required orthopaedic procedures compared to men and at least 29% of them were obese

The orthopaedic surgeon at Eva Hospital “Dr. Tanveer Singh Bhutani” explains that the inflammatory chemicals in the fat that surround the knees, mainly cytokines, have different effects on the musculoskeletal system.

These chemicals play a major role in causing inflammation and the rate of inflammation doubles in obese individuals

What to Do?

• Individuals are advised to stay active prioritizing physical exercises. Opt for the stairs rather than an escalator or lifts while heading to your office

• A minimum of 150-minute physical activity is required per week, while 75 minutes of vigorous exercises in a week must be promoted

• Rather than driving to your workplace, walk or use a bicycle

• Make and follow a physical fitness timetable in the case involved with working for long hours while seated. This is because sitting for longer hours reduces the knee’s and hip’s range of motion

• Physical therapy is recommended for older individuals to improve the knee’s function

• Try all means to have a healthy/balanced diet, focusing on vegetables and anti-inflammatory foods

• Get enough sleep