Obesity Invites Osteo-Arthritis in Young Women Weight Reduction be the Main Stay of Management! A Case Study

Knee osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease of the knee, is typically the result of wear and tear and progressive loss of articular cartilage. Age, weight and gender are the predisposing risk factors and symptoms are swelling, pain and stiffness at knee joint. We here present a case of 43-year-old housewife reported with pain, swelling and stiffness at right knee on 5 May 2021 was taken to nearby orthopedician. After physical examination and radiological investigation, she was diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. He treated her with some analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs and suggested to take physical therapy and counselled for weight reduction. In a follow up visit she had reduced her weight by 3 kgs in a month’s time and was doing fine. We infer that weight of an individual plays an important role in the incidence of knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease. Almost everyone will eventually develop some degree of osteoarthritis. The most common cause of osteoarthritis of the knee is age. Some factors increase the risk of developing significant arthritis at an earlier age. Weight is one such variable that increases pressure on all the joints, especially the knees. a 5-unit increase in body mass index was associated with a 35 per cent increased risk of knee OA [1]. Women ages 55 and older are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis of the knee. We report a case in a relatively young women of 43 years but obese lady and with no familial history, in contradiction to known factors and managed by standard practices of weight reduction, physiotherapy and NSAIDs in the initial few days for pain relief.