Joint Pain
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder and includes symptoms in the hands, knees, hips, back and neck. Being overweight increases the load placed on the joints such as the knees, which could increase the breakdown of cartilage. A force of nearly three to six times a person’s body weight is exerted across the knee while walking. Losing just 10 pounds of weight can decrease the force on the knee by 30-60 pounds with each step. The benefits of weight loss include substantially decreases in pain in those who have knee or hip arthritis.