Carrying too much body weight can damage your knees and can set a world of pain for you. Here’s why.
Knees are the important joint for the upper and lower body bones and also help in carrying the body weight around while walking. Knees have two kinds of motions available –the flexion motion (bending) and extension (straightening). Both are vital to the movement of a human body and thus knee become the irreplaceable part of the body. It is seen that putting on higher body weight on knees can cause them irreparable damage sometimes. Though there may be several other causes for knee pain, obesity surely aggravates the damage. As one gains weight, the pressure on the knees builds up leading to wear and tear of tissues and increasing chances of osteoarthritis. The cartilage is the tissue that surrounds the knee cap which gets damaged due to those extra pounds of weight on body. Studies and surveys have shown that overweight people are more likely to get affected by osteoarthritis. It is also seen that the patients of osteoarthritis who have been able to manage their weight well feel eased of pain and discomfort without any surgical intervention. Individuals, especially people at high risk of Osteoarthritis, must take measures to reduce weight. The best way is to inculcate some healthy habits in their daily routines.
- Go for a walk at least two times a day.
- Have meals in piece meals. Instead of taking three heavy meals, take five divided meals.
- Avoid high calorie and fatty foods such as cheese, butter, potato, Excessive sugar, sweets etc.
- Take Stairs instead of elevators or lift.
- Do some exercises.
- Consult a dietician to make some changes in your routine diet plan.
- Stay happy which is most important for health maintenance as stress leads to overeating and thus weight gain.
These simple steps can help you manage your weight and thus save from the risk of osteoarthritis.
