‘Patients should have rest, food, fresh air, and exercise - the quadrangle of health’William Osler (1849–1919)The World Health Organization tells us…
- Global obesity has TRIPLED since 1975
- Over 1.9 billion (39%) adults are overweight (as of 2016)
- Over 650 million (13%) are obese
Throughout history, plague (infection), war and famine were the 3 biggest killers.
But we now live in a world where, in most countries,
too much bodyweight kills more people than
too little.
Over the last 20 years, obesity in the UK has
DOUBLED to 25%.
1 in 4 of us.
That does
NOT include those of us who are overweight.
It is
NOT a good trend.
When it comes to people in the UK needing hip replacement, the figures are even
worse.
40% are overweight.
40% are obese or heavier.
That’s
4 in 5 people having a hip replacement.
Barely
1/5th are ‘normal’ weight.
These ⬆ percentages indicate the contribution obesity makes to hip pain and early joint replacement.
Coming up I'll show how this association acts at a
Global,
National AND
Individual level.
And the figures are worse for those undergoing knee and ankle replacement.
The 4 men in my autumn clinic are therefore far from alone.
Far from alone when weighing in ‘Obese’ when needing joint replacement.
Coming up we'll look at how balancing  bodyweight and muscle strength dramatically effects the force we put through our joints.
That's the
biomechanics of joint pain.
And we’ll look at how excess body fat has recently been shown to have an inflammatory effect. Both on
our joints, and on
our whole body.
That’s the
biochemistry of joint pain.
The effects are laid out in recent research:
- Earlier joint replacement
- Worse outcomes
- Higher complication rates
I’m no dietician or nutritional expert. BUT I can write about how this all effects our joints. I know a thing or two about joints.
And I can also share my own personal experience:
- The shock of learning that I weighed in as 'Overweight'
- My own terrible diet.. that's got a bit better (most of the time).
Beyond that, there’s the good news...
The practical actionable tips that my patients find useful. And the dramatic results that optimising bodyweight can achieve.
All that is coming up. Meantime…
Good luck!
