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How Joint Problems Arise
Being overweight not only makes joint discomfort worse, it also appears to be a cause of discomfort. For every pound that you are overweight, you place an additional six times your bodyweight of pressure on your knees and hips every time you rise from a chair or walk down stairs. If you are 20 pounds overweight, your knees carry an extra burden of up to 120 pounds. If you weigh 150 pounds, you are putting 900 pounds of pressure on your knees when you walk down stairs. There is clear evidence that being overweight increases the risk for joint discomfort later in life. Research conducted at the Harvard School of Public health found that women who were overweight were four times as likely as women who weighed less to develop knee discomfort. Women who were medically obese were ten times more likely to develop knee discomfort. Being overweight can also adversely affect a person’s gait, how they walk, and this can cause even more pressure on the joints. A small weight loss can have a significant impact on decreasing discomfort. In the Framingham Study, it was found that by losing approximately 11 pounds, or 2 units of BMI (body mass index), people reduced their discomfort by 50%.
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Damage to any component of the joint
can cause injury. We tend to ignore our
joints until something happens to them
that causes discomfort. Everyday
activities such as climbing stairs, bending,
and lifting can strain the joints and lead to
injury. This strain is even greater if we’re
overweight because then our joints are
forced to carry a significantly heavier
load and face even faster deterioration.
66% of people who have joint discomfort
are overweight; 21% are inactive.
Having weak muscles, our body’s first shock absorbers, causes our joints to absorb the
full impact of additional strain because our joints do not get proper support.
Breakdown of cartilage can cause bones to
grind together and become even more
unhealthy. If we take good care of our joints,
by exercising to strengthen our muscles, by
losing weight to relieve stress on our joints,
by doing stretching and low-impact aerobics
such as using an elliptical machine to keep
our joints lubricated, and by taking Supple®
to help rebuild our cartilage and joints, then
we have the best chance at
