Obesity causes extra weight to bear down on cartilage between joints, bringing extra risk of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and develops as the cartilage that cushions joints wears away, leaving bone on bone.

According to a recent survey, the odds of joint pain increased as weight increased. People 60 years of age and older had a 12 percent likelihood of arthritic pain if they were underweight and a 60 percent chance if they were very obese. Says Dr. David Pisetsky, “There is good evidence that people who are close to their ideal weight are going to have fewer problems.”

Eating right and exercising helps protect cartilage from deterioration. Cartilage receives nutrients from fluids in the joint and then the nutrients can be squeezed into the tissue by movement.

According to Pisetsky, although researchers can’t tell as yet how much activity is the right amount to reduce risk, they do know that at least one half hour a day of moderate activity such as brisk walking is good for cardiovascular health.

Those who already have arthritis can gain from losing weight and keeping their joints active, but need to be more careful about their activity. For instance, according to Dr. Nicholas DiNubile, exercises that pound joints, such as running, are off limits. He recommends water aerobics designed for arthritis patients, as well as exercise bikes and elliptical trainers.

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