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Excess Weight Speeds Up Osteoarthritis

The main risk factors for cartilage loss were pre-existing cartilage damage, being overweight or obese, tears or other injury to the cartilage at the knee joint (meniscus), and severe lesions seen on an MRI. Other factors include inflammation of the membrane lining the joints and abnormal build-up of fluid in the joint, according to the report.

Being overweight was associated with rapid cartilage loss, Roemer's team found. In fact, for every one-unit increase in body mass index, the chances of rapid cartilage loss increased 11 percent.

The association between obesity and rapid cartilage loss remained even after taking into account age, gender and ethnic background.

"It is a disease without treatment at present other than symptomatic -- mostly pain therapy and surgical total joint replacement," Roemer said.

"We know that weight loss is probably the most important factor to slow disease progression," Roemer said. "Additional studies will have to show if other measures, such as vitamins or targeted treatment of bone marrow lesions, will help to slow progression," he said.

"Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal disorder with major health and socioeconomic impact in our aging society," added Roemer.

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