Usually, people associate obesity with high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart diseases. Little do they know that obesity also has a lot to do with the bone density of your body, and too much weight can have a serious impact on your bones, muscles, and joints.
It was once thought that having excessive weight helps in making your bones strong, but this theory has been proved wrong recently. Being obese can cause lower bone density and makes your bones prone to fractures, making it more important than you might think to start losing the extra weight.
Interestingly, every pound of weight gained puts pressure of an extra four pounds on each of your knee joint. So, if you gained 10 pounds, that would be adding the extra weight of forty pounds on each knee.
It is high time that the detrimental effects of obesity on musculoskeletal health should be presented to the masses so that they realize the importance of maintaining the right body weight.
No More Joint Problems
You have no idea how susceptible you are to a number of joint issues just because of being overweight. Not only does the smooth surface on the end of the bones called cartilage becomes weakened but also the tendons develop inflammation due to extra pressure.
Tendonitis is a condition of the tendons caused by the extra pressure placed on the joints due to weight gain. The problem causes redness, swelling, and extreme pain that can become unbearable if ignored for a long time.
“Bursa” is a fluid sack that prevents friction between the bones and the muscles. When it is irritated, it can cause a similar condition to tendonitis called bursitis. Apart from frequent repetitive use and car accident injuries, excess weight is a prominent cause of this disease.
While it may be easier to control certain joint problems through medication and taking ample rest, you must be willing to losing the extra weight if you want a long and healthy life for your bones. Reducing the pressure on them will ensure an active and fit lifestyle for you.
Eliminating the Risk of Osteoporosis
Recently, it was discovered by US researchers that obese people had hidden fat inside their bones, making them susceptible to osteoporosis. Their bones are weak, and in case of an accident, they are likely to get fractured.
The Harvard Medical School team carried out a study on 106 obese men and women that were otherwise perfectly healthy. It was found that fat has accumulated in hidden spaces like liver, muscles, and even their bone marrow along with belly, thighs, and hips.
Dr. Miriam Bredella, who was responsible for this research, said that a spine full of fat is never going to be strong. The fat cells in the bone marrow tend to weaken the bones and cause them to lose their density.
It has been found that people who have osteoporosis also have higher levels of fat in their bone marrow. Since one doesn’t have a choice of where to put weight on, it is better to maintain the right body weight to ensure the health of the organs. If you want to eliminate your risk of osteoporosis, then you need to start losing the extra weight.
More Weight Means Lower Bone Density
Bone density is more related to the lean mass as compared to body mass. Although rapid weight loss is mostly associated with the weakening of bones, steadily and slowly losing weight can help in improving the density of the bones.
According to the studies on weight loss, the diet restriction results in a lesser intake of calcium. Obviously, less calcium implies that you are going to lose the density of your bones, but this can be rectified by incorporating calcium supplements and calcium-rich foods in your diet when you begin losing the extra weight.
Another important nutrient that must be a part of your diet to ensure bone health is Vitamin D. Losing weight is also associated with losing the necessary energy intake of your body, but this can be overcome by taking Vitamin D supplements.
Having optimal levels of bone density is extremely important to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. Losing weight doesn’t imply that you have to bear with extreme shoulder pain after an accident of minor nature just because your bones aren’t strong enough to take the pressure.
Obesity Leads to Higher Chances of Joint Replacement Surgery
If the pain and damage to the joint go beyond a certain point, there’s no option left other than the joint replacement surgery. The artificial joint called a prosthesis, usually made of metal and plastic, replaces the joint after reshaping the bone.
The most important thing to know here is that the chances of going through joint replacement surgery are higher in obese people, especially at a younger age. In fact, if you are obese, you are 20 times more likely to go under the knife because of joint problems.
Even after the surgery, people with excess weight have higher chances of experiencing complications. Infection, blood clots, and dislocation of the replaced joint are some of the most serious issues that one may experience, but obese people have a lot more coming for them.
The huge body mass makes it difficult for the surgeon to reach the bone and also results in a longer and larger scar. Because of the size of the scar, it takes more time to heal, which means that you have to resort to longer rest periods and more physical therapy to get back on track. These are all things you need to think about before you start losing the extra weight.
Lower Susceptibility to Chronic Pain Syndrome
Normally referred to as the “long-term pain”, the chronic pain syndrome has a direct relation to your weight. One major reason to experience this is the pressure the excess weight puts on your joints.
All the renowned orthopedic clinics state that obese people are twice as likely as people of normal weight to have chronic pain syndrome. Children who are affected by childhood obesity experience chronic pain in their knees and feet.
They have more symptoms and increased episodes of pain that are difficult to correct without weight loss. Blount’s disease is also common amongst such children, which is a deformity of the tibia caused by the overload of weight.
Apart from being at a greater risk of fractures, such children also have a very difficult recovery. If the hardware used to correct the fracture is not strong enough to support the weight, several other complications may arise in the treatment. Additionally, it is a hassle for them to move around with the crutches.
Complications in Healing of Bone Injuries
People who are obese are not only more likely to injure themselves but their recovery also becomes a difficult journey. This is because they have more chances of complications and the recovery is very slow.
When the thigh bone separates from the bones of the lower leg, the condition is known as dislocation of the knee joints. Unfortunately, obese people experience it more and are also prone to the fractures of hip, shin, and thigh bones just because of their weight.
As compared to other individuals with normal body weight, overweight people have to resort to longer periods of therapy and rely on professional help to ensure that the healing process stays smooth and is completed without any complications arising.
Marietta whiplash chiropractors report that they receive a large number of obese people who are not suffering from arthritis or osteoporosis but have a bone injury owing to their large weight that also slows their recovery.
Conclusion
It is an unpleasant fact that osteoporosis and other bone-related disorders are most associated with females. Approximately 10 million Americans are suffering from osteoporosis, and 80% of them are women. Another 22 million women are already at risk of the disease.
Given that the women’s odds of having an osteoporotic fracture are 1 in 3, it is high time that you should start focusing on your health. Take the plunge by ensuring that you have the right body weight and your bones are not under any pressure.
From ensuring a regular intake of all the vital nutrients, especially Calcium and Vitamin D, to rolling out a plan for safe and healthy exercises, bone health must be of top priority on your list. Also, leave unhealthy habits like smoking that paces up the bone loss process.
You should know the risks that come with being overweight, and if you want to lead a happy and healthy life, give up on the things that deteriorate your quality life in any way. You need to keep joints healthy, preserve your bones, stay happy, and start losing the extra weight before you suffer the consequences of those cheeseburgers.
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