How does Weight Loss Affect Your Knees?

The functions and importance of knees are known to everyone. Being the largest joint in human bodies, the knee joint connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). It is the knees that allow mobility of legs and help you move, run, or sit down. Knees include cartilage, muscles, nerves, and ligaments, like various other joints in the body. Since the knee is a lower body part, your overall body weight may affect the knee health to a great extent. It is crucial to maintain knee health for hassle-free mobility.

In this context, one commonly asked question is does being overweight affect knees? Well, it cannot be denied that being overweight may cause certain knee complications and if ignored they may become severe. However, proper weight management can help maintain good knee health. In this article, we will discuss how does weight affect your knees and some tips to maintain a healthy weight.

Knees and Body Weight

Without understanding the relation between your body weight and the knees, you can’t comprehend how weight affects the knees. The overall body weight directly affects the knees and their functioning, especially the mobility of the legs. With increasing body weight, the pressure and stress on the knees increase, which may lead to various health issues like osteoarthritis, inflammation etc.

By losing considerable body weight, one can manage knee pain and the risks of knee inflammation or osteoarthritis. It is also essential to understand that knee pain does not only persist in overweight people. People with healthy body weight may also experience knee pain or other knee complications. In any such case, it is best to consult a doctor.

How Does Being Overweight Affect Your Knees?

Overweight and knee problems are directly connected. As discussed above, increased weight means increased pressure on your knees. Here are some of the common issues that one may face due to overweight:

1. Increased Knee Pressure

When you stand up or walk, your knees bear all the body weight. Just like any other joint, pressurising knees excessively can lead to knee pain in the long run.

2. Inflammation of the Knees

Over time, increased pressure on the knees due to being overweight can lead to knee inflammation. It is especially common in old adults. Some may experience acute pain or even evident lumps on the knees as a result of knee inflammation.

3. Osteoarthritis Risks

Osteoarthritis is another common knee problem in older adults. There can be various risk factors for osteoarthritis, and being overweight is one of them. For more information on your osteoarthritis risks and management, you may consult your doctor.

>> Also Know: Health Insurance for High BMI

How Does Losing Weight Affect Your Knees?

For someone who is overweight or obese, losing body weight can help in many ways. Increased body weight not only affects your knees but also various other body parts. It also leads to decreased stamina and strength. Weight loss can directly impact knees, especially if you are suffering from knee problems.

But, how much does losing weight affect your knees? Here is the answer: 

1. Decreased Risks of Knee Arthritis

Research shows that people who focus on losing their excess body weight, especially by at least 20% of their body weight, tend to have decreased risks of knee arthritis. Knee stiffness, pain, and burning sensation while walking or sitting are common symptoms of knee arthritis. When you lose weight, the pressure on the knees decreases thus, leads to better knee conditions.

2. Better Mobility

People with obesity may have walking difficulties. So, when you lose considerable body weight, the mobility of your knees becomes easier. Activities like walking, jogging, sitting, or standing do not feel as difficult as earlier with excess body weight. With decreased body weight, knee pressure also decreases.

Usually, weight loss has a positive body impact on people who are overweight or obese. However, rapidly losing body weight can affect knees in many ways. Aggressively losing weight can sometimes lead to muscle loss, which may affect knee stability. For best results on knee pain, it is advisable to lose body weight gradually by following a holistic approach.

Tips for Weight Loss

The following are some tips on how you can lose weight naturally at home and keep your knees healthy

1. Diet Management

The food that you eat has a lot to do with your body weight and overall health. It is crucial to have a healthy diet that can support both a healthy body weight and a healthy you. When targeting weight loss, diet management is a crucial part. For better advice and a comprehensive diet plan, you may consult a nutritionist or plan out a diet chart of your own. The only rule is to include healthy food, fruits, and a balanced diet.

2. Regular Exercise

Another quintessential part of weight loss is regular exercise. Without exercise, there is probably no natural shortcut to weight loss. It is a gradual process, and one has to be patient with it. You may not see any effect of exercise overnight or in a week. However, with regularity, gradually, your body shows effects in the form of weight loss and increased muscle strength.

3. A Healthy Mind

While weight loss is a gradual process, it is essential that you have a healthy mind. Mental health can directly impact anything you do and focus on, including the body weight loss process. You may get tired and exhausted during the process, and it's ok. All you have to do is keep going.

4. Enough Hydration

Hydration is a must. Enough water intake is important for everyone to maintain a healthy gut and overall health. While following a weight loss diet and exercise, make sure you drink enough fluid and water.

5. Avoid Junk

Avoiding junk food can be a good idea for anyone, especially for those seeking weight loss. Junk food may increase belly fat. You may alternatively switch to healthy snacks or home cooked food items.

Summing Up

The knees are one of the essential joints of the body. Ensuring healthy knees can be in your hands. If you are experiencing excess body weight, then losing extra weight can be quite beneficial for you, especially for healthy knees. Over time, the cushion inside the knees breaks, which leads to the rubbing of joints that causes inflammation, pain, and arthritis. Losing weight can help all these situations by lowering knee pressure. Coming back to your question; how much does weight affect your knee- Well, you may further consult your doctor for the best advice on knee pain.

Additionally, including health insurance plans to your investment portfolio can be a great idea. Various complications can arise due to overweight and knee pains like osteoarthritis, and this is when Care Health Insurance comes as a solid financial backup. Comprehensive coverage, high sum insured and a wide range of network hospitals and healthcare providers offering cashless benefits are some of the features of our plans that help you manage your medical expenses to a great extent. You can choose as per your needs and customise accordingly.

Disclaimers: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.