Carrying Extra Weight: How Weight Affects Your Bones, Joints, and Mobility

Table of Contents

Carrying excess weight can have a profound impact on your orthopedic health, causing pain, reduced mobility, and increased risk of injury. Understanding how this extra weight affects your musculoskeletal system is the first step in taking control of long-term joint and bone health.

Effects of being overweight on orthopedic health

When you’re overweight or obese, the extra force and stress placed on your body’s joints, especially high-impact areas like your knees, hips, and ankles, can quickly cause damage. In fact, research shows that for every pound of weight gain, an additional four pounds of force is exerted on the knee joint. risk.

The problem isn’t limited to the joints, either. Carrying extra weight can also affect your bone health, making you more susceptible to fractures, especially in the spine, wrists, and ankles. Influence.

A downward spiral of weight, pain, and mobility loss

As orthopedic problems caused by excess weight worsen, maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle becomes more difficult. Debilitating joint pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion can make even the most basic daily activities—walking, climbing stairs, or simply standing up from a chair—extremely difficult.

Decreased mobility further leads to weight gain, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break without addressing the underlying cause. In fact, research shows that approximately 30% of obese adults also have mobility limitations.

Take control of your orthopedic health through weight management

The good news is that taking steps to control your weight can take much of the stress off your bones, joints, and overall mobility. Research shows that even modest weight loss of 5-10% of body weight can significantly reduce joint load and reduce the risk of orthopedic complications.

By working with your doctor or qualified health care professional, you can develop a safe and sustainable weight loss plan that incorporates a balanced diet and regular exercise. Activities that put less stress on your joints, such as swimming, biking, or using an elliptical machine, are especially beneficial during this process.

Prioritize your orthopedic health today

If you’re concerned about how your weight affects your bones, joints, and mobility, don’t wait! . Make an appointment with our team of experienced orthopedic specialists who can help you develop a personalized plan to address weight-related orthopedic issues and get you back to an active, pain-free life.

1 Messier, S. P. (2008). Obesity and osteoarthritis: disease origins and nonpharmacological weight management. Rheumatology Clinic, 34(3), 713-729.

² Nielson, CM, Srikanth, P., & Orwoll, ES (2012). Obesity and fractures in men and women. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 27(2), 390-398.

³ Alley, DE, & Chang, VW (2007). Changes in the relationship between obesity and disability, 1988-2004. Jama, 298(17), 2020-2027.

⁴ Christensen, R., Bartels, EM, Astrup, A., & Bliddal, H. (2007). Effects of weight loss in obese patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Rheumatology, 66(4), 433-439.