New Study: Weight Loss Slows Degeneration of the Joint
You’ll hear Jerry Hickey, R.Ph regularly mention on his radio program that there are a few factors that positively benefit all health conditions – following an active lifestyle, losing weight, and eating the right foods. A new study, focusing on Osteoarthritis and joint degeneration, backs that up.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as a degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis in the U.S., affecting more than 30 million adults, according to Medical News Today. It is caused by the breakdown of cartilage – the tissue that protects the joints at the end of bones and enables them to move smoothly. Extra weight can put added pressure on the joint, which causes wear and tear. Before long, this can cause an unprecedented amount of pain for the individual, making it harder to complete daily tasks.
Researchers from the University of California-San Francisco found that overweight or obese adults experienced slower joint degeneration after losing 5 or 10 percent of their body weight over 4 years, compared to those who did not lose weight.
Lead study author Dr. Alexandra Gersing and colleagues note in the study that higher levels of body fat can lead to an increase in substances in the blood that triggers joint inflammation, which can raise the risk of OA. Researchers studied degeneration of the knee in all joint structures – menisci, articular cartilage, and bone marrow. Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, which included 640 overweight or obese adults, was analyzed for 48 months to monitor changes in the subjects’ weight and in knee degeneration.
“The most exciting finding of our research was that not only did we see slower joint degeneration in the articular cartilage, we saw that the menisci degenerated a lot slower in overweight and obese individuals who lost more than 5 percent of their body weight, and that the effects were strongest in overweight individuals and in individuals with substantial weight loss,” says Dr. Gersing.
Natural Joint Support
Millions of Americans suffer from joint pain and discomfort. A number of factors contribute to joint pain, which often keeps individuals from carrying out their daily activities. This can significantly impact a person’s life, and it may continue until they are able to find an effective treatment or medication plan. Joint health supplements have been shown in clinical studies to help maintain joint health and significantly decrease the pain and discomfort caused by injury, strain, disease, infection, or arthritis. Clinical studies have demonstrated the ability of these joint health supplements to support the overall health and flexibility of joints.
Quality nutritional supplements consist of nutrients and herbs that work in different, yet complementary ways to enhance joint comfort and health. The combination of synergistic ingredients can help make walking easier, support health of the ligaments and tendons, and improves comfort of the neck, shoulders, fingers, wrists, back, knees, hips and more.
Weight Loss Tips from Scientific Director, Jerry Hickey, R.Ph
Obesity, besides increasing the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer can also take its toll on your knees, spine, and self-image. Losing weight requires a combination of decreasing your calorie intake while stepping up or instituting an exercise regime. Many people are successful at losing weight but keeping the weight off is the hard part.
Research shows that taking a protein supplement after a meal helps you feel satiated. This curbing of your appetite decreases cravings for food. Imparting a feeling of satiation improves the success of any diet plan. Additionally, staying on a post meal protein supplement has been shown to help dieters keep the weight off successfully months after dieting is over and in fact they often continue to lose some additional weight. Your choice of protein can offer additional benefits. Choosing a New Zealand-sourced milk protein isolate or high quality whey protein may be the best choice if you need to improve the building of bone. These two proteins also supply the ingredients used by your body to create an incredibly protective antioxidant known as Glutathione which benefits the entire body. Glutathione is involved with organ protection, detoxification, and immune system health. Choosing a non-genetically modified soybean derived protein also improves satiety, protects bone health, and may help lower your cholesterol modestly.
Questions about Joint Degeneration or Weight Loss? Leave them right here in the comments for Jerry Hickey, R.Ph!
