People with obesity often experience chronic joint pain. Carrying extra weight can affect how your joints feel — your knees, hips, and lower back usually bear the most pressure.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that occurs when the joints wear down over time. This can cause pain and stiffness, especially in the knee joints, hands, hips, neck, and lower back. Some people living with obesity are also living with osteoarthritis. One MyObesityTeam member asked, “Do you have osteoarthritis and are you overweight? Did you develop osteoarthritis because of your weight?“

If you’re living with obesity, you may be asking some of these same questions. The effects of obesity can include joint problems and osteoarthritis. Learn more about how obesity affects your joints, including ways to manage it.

How Excess Weight Affects Joint Health

Obesity occurs when the body has excess fat, leading to a higher weight. More weight can add more stress to weight-bearing joints and weaken them. Researchers say that every extra pound of body weight can place between 4 and 6 pounds of pressure on each of your knee joints. Obesity can lead to osteoarthritis because extra weight puts more pressure on the joints, causing those joints to wear down faster.

Inflammation also plays a role. A review study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology explains that people with osteoarthritis have more immune cells in the lining of their joints than people of lower weight. These extra immune cells combine with other cells in the joint, which may cause joint damage. This cycle may speed up joint damage in people living with obesity and make osteoarthritis worse. Excess weight can also cause damage to soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and cartilage, contributing to chronic pain.

Common Areas of Obesity-Related Joint Pain

The knee is the most common joint affected by osteoarthritis, followed by the joints of the fingers and hips. This is true for people living with obesity as well as those living without it.

Knee Pain

Some MyObesityTeam members reported chronic knee pain in one or both knee joints. One team member wrote: “I am in excruciating pain, mainly with my knees.” According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, women living with obesity are nearly four times more likely to have knee osteoarthritis than the general population, and men are five times more likely.

Back Pain

Back pain has also been discussed among MyObesityTeam members. One MyObesityTeam member wrote, “I have arthritis in both hips and lower back pain.” A 2018 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that people who are overweight are 21 percent more likely to have back pain and those living with obesity have a 55 percent higher risk.

Hand and Wrist Pain

Research also suggests that having a higher weight increases your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome by 1.5 times, while having obesity doubles this risk. Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when there is extra pressure on a nerve in the wrist. This usually causes pain and numbness of the affected hand.

Conditions Linked to Obesity-Related Joint Pain

In addition to osteoarthritis, the effects of obesity can lead to other types of arthritis, which can contribute to joint pain.

Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when too much uric acid (a waste product in your body) builds up and forms crystals in the joints. According to the Arthritis Foundation, about 14 percent of people who have gout also have obesity and 70 percent are overweight.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriasis is a condition where the immune system causes the skin to become discolored, itchy, and scaly. About 1 in 3 people with psoriasis also get psoriatic arthritis, which is a type of joint pain and swelling caused by the immune system. Obesity increases the risk of getting psoriasis, and it can also raise the risk of developing psoriatic arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system condition that attacks the lining of the joints and causes pain and swelling. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can affect other parts of the body, including the skin, eyes, heart, and lungs. People living with obesity and rheumatoid arthritis have more pain and a reduced quality of life.

Managing and Relieving Joint Pain

You may be looking for chronic pain relief for your joints. You’re not alone. One MyObesityTeam member asked: “Does anyone else here have arthritis in their back and knees? If so, what treatments have worked for you?”

One MyObesityTeam member replied, “Some warm-up exercises for my knees before I get up ease the pain a bit.” Another wrote, “I have had two back surgeries and two vertebrae replaced. I also have had both knees replaced. It helped some, but it’s still painful.” Other team members responded that medications and knee replacement surgery were options they had considered.

Weight Management

Maintaining a healthy weight and body mass index is one of the most effective ways to reduce joint pain. Even a small amount of weight loss can reduce the stress on your joints. Adding certain foods to your diet may help. For example, anti-inflammatory foods like fatty fish, nuts, and seeds can help reduce joint swelling.

Physical activity can also help. You can participate in low-impact activities that don’t put a lot of strain on your joints, such as:

• Swimming
• Cycling
• Yoga

Physical activity helps strengthen muscles and relieve joint pain. Ask your doctor for recommendations that are joint-friendly. After initially achieving a healthy weight through lifestyle changes and low-impact exercises, doctors sometimes recommend high-impact cardio exercises like running.

Acupuncture may also be helpful by triggering the release of cortisol. This is a hormone that helps reduce inflammation.

Pain Management Options

There are several medications for joint pain your doctor may recommend. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) may be helpful. Keep in mind that you should usually take NSAIDs after you’ve eaten something to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. Corticosteroid medications may also offer some relief. Talk to your doctor about your options for pain management and see what they recommend.

Physical and Occupational Therapy

Physical and occupational therapy can help people with arthritis move more easily and reduce pain. Occupational therapists can teach you different ways to adjust your daily activities to help with joint pain and improve your quality of life. For example, they can show you how to use a tool to grab objects without straining your back or knee joints. They can also recommend devices like splints or knee braces. Physical therapists help strengthen muscles around the joints to improve movement and stability.

Supportive Devices

In addition to splints or knee braces, supportive footwear like shoe inserts or an ankle brace are other devices a healthcare professional may recommend. Proper shoes or inserts can improve your alignment and the overall function of the foot and ankle joints.

When To See a Doctor

If you experience consistent joint pain, talk to your healthcare provider. They can give you advice on the best ways to manage joint pain. You should also see a healthcare provider if you have joint pain that affects your quality of life or if you’re experiencing:

• Redness or discoloration, tenderness, or swelling in the affected joint
• Fever
• Severe pain in the joint

For some people, weight loss medications or bariatric surgery may be options. Work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan tailored to your medical history and needs.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyObesityTeam is the social network for people living with obesity and their loved ones. On MyObesityTeam, more than 57,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with obesity.

Are you living with obesity and experiencing joint pain? How are you managing joint pain? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.