It’s estimated that six million Canadians have arthritis – which equates to 1 in 5 of us. If you fall into this category, you may experience symptoms like joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness which can all impact your day-to-day life. What you may not know is that your weight could be a cause of any pain and discomfort.
We all understand the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for reducing our risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.. However, losing weight can also ease the pain of arthritis.
Read on to find some of the ways in which losing weight can be beneficial if you have arthritis.
Ease Pain
Tons of research has been carried out which shows that losing weight can ease pain for those with arthritis.
In general, the less excess weight you are carrying, the less pain you’ll experience. If you’re overweight or obese, excess skin and fat can cause your joints to work twice as hard, which can put a huge strain on your body and exacerbate arthritis symptoms.
Less Pressure on Joints
In one study, obese adults with knee osteoarthritis found that losing one pound of weight caused four pounds of pressure being taken away from the knees. This means the more weight you lose, the more pressure will be removed from your knees. If you suffer from knee pain, weight loss can enhance joint function and boost your quality of life.
Reduce Disease Activity
Dropping weight can lower the overall severity of your arthritis. Research shows that those who are overweight or obese who lose roughly 10.2 pounds of weight are three times as likely to have better disease activity compared to those who do not lose weight.
Better Sleep
The more weight you carry, the more difficulty you may have getting a good night’s sleep. If you have arthritis, pain and discomfort can hinder how much sleep you get and even lead to insomnia. Should you go on a health kick and lose weight, not only will this improve your quality of sleep, but any musculoskeletal pain should also be reduced, which will help you drift off easier and prevent you from waking up frequently throughout the night.
How to Lose Weight
After reading all the above, your next step may be to lose weight and reap the health benefits. However, if you have arthritis, getting into the gym and doing an intense workout may not be wise. There are lots of ways you can lose weight that don’t have to involve high-intensity workouts, such as watching what you eat and lowering your calorie intake.
Some people opt for cosmetic procedures like BodyTite liposuction which can remove excess fat. There are several benefits of a BodyTite Lipo which may sway you into choosing this option. Whatever route you decide on to lose weight, make sure to speak to your doctor first.
Arthritis symptoms like those above can massively impact your quality of life. To ease pain and discomfort, something as simple as dropping a few pounds could be the answer.
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