Weight loss surgery provides the relief you need from arthritic joints.
According to the CDC, one in five Americans has been diagnosed with arthritis. The condition is even more common among patients who are overweight.
Over one-third of obese Americans suffer from some form of arthritis. Considering these figures, medical researchers increasingly point toward the long-term effects of obesity on the body, including arthritis.
Bariatric surgery is a proven and effective treatment option for people who cannot moderate the impacts of obesity through diet and exercise alone.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is swelling and tenderness caused by inflammation of one or more joints on your body. The main symptoms of arthritis include joint stiffness and pain, which worsens with age.
The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis causes cartilage to break down over time, while rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that triggers the immune system to attack the joints.
The Tie Between Obesity and Arthritis
Medical experts increasingly believe that there is a definitive link between obesity and arthritis.
It has been easily proven that the more weight on a joint, the more likely it will wear out and break down.
One pound of extra weight leads to four pounds of extra pressure on the knees. In other words, a person who is 10 pounds overweight has an additional 40 pounds of pressure on the knees, while a person who is 100 pounds overweight has an extra 400 pounds of excess pressure on the knees. As a result, the knee joints are the most commonly affected by arthritis.
It is fairly straightforward that if the excess body weight is reduced, it will relieve the pressure on knee joints and help mitigate the symptoms of arthritis.
However, it becomes challenging for a patient with arthritis to lose weight through physical exercise because arthritis breaks down the joints and makes the movements increasingly painful.
Patients should note that the relationship between arthritis and obesity is more complex than a simple function of pressure. Irrespective of the type of arthritis, researchers now believe that, like an autoimmune disorder, arthritis is also chemically impacted by excess weight.
Excess fat tissue causes the development and release of chemicals such as cytokines and adipokines, which lead to joint inflammation and damage.
Weight Loss Surgery Can Significantly Improve Obesity, and Arthritic Joints
Weight loss procedures are often used to address obesity and arthritic joints. One of the major weight loss procedures for this purpose is bariatric surgery.
This safe, effective, and realistic weight loss option for obese arthritis patients can help to achieve long-term weight loss.
Once the weight loss begins, the excessive pressure on knee joints progressively reduces. Patients can make greater movement and find it easier to do physical exercises, leading to further weight loss.
Patients should be aware that weight loss surgery is not a “cure-all” for arthritis, especially because the damage already suffered by the joint cartilage cannot be reversed except through joint replacement. The good news is that weight loss surgery can still play a vital role in fighting the painful symptoms of arthritis while preventing further degeneration of the joint tissue at the same time.
In cases where joint degradation has advanced to a stage where replacement surgery is necessary, the weight lost through metabolic surgery can make the joint replacement procedure easier.
Long-term results and arthritis relief are possible.
At Beltre Bariatrics, we offer a proven, multifaceted approach to bariatric surgery that will empower you to achieve your weight loss goals, improve your health and rebuild your self-confidence.
If you live with obesity and arthritis, weight loss surgery can help. Call 321-499-6505 or schedule a consultation today.
