Body Weight Linked to Osteoarthritis Pain Severity
A study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology (March 2022) found a connection between being overweight or obese and greater pain in the hands, feet, knees and hips among people who have hand osteoarthritis (OA). The study included 281 adults (median age 61 years) with hand OA. The researchers found that as body mass index (BMI) increased, there was a corresponding rise in pain scores for hands, feet, knees, hips and generalized pain. The researchers also looked for potential causes for the link. Their analysis suggested that the effect of body weight on pain was partially associated with increased levels of markers of inflammation in the body. They concluded that effects of obesity, measured by leptin, may play a role in hand pain. Low-grade inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein, may contribute to generalized pain in overweight and obese people.
