Obesity in Arthritis: Related Factors: Dietary Therapy

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity was compared in an arthritis clinic (699 patients) and a general medical clinic (1,026 patients). Obesity was no more common in the patients from the arthritis clinic. Among the 699 cases of arthritis there were 558 cases of degenerative (osteo‐) arthritis (D. A.) and 114 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (R. A.). Data on these forms of the disease in relation to obesity are presented with regard to sex, ethnic group, constitutional habitus, age, severity of arthritis, location of the affected joints, body weight, and the times of onset of the obesity and the arthritis. Of all the obese arthritic patients, 30 per cent had gained an average of 30 pounds before the onset of arthritis; 60 per cent had gained from 40 to 80 pounds; and 10 per cent had gained from 80 to 100 pounds. Damage to the weight‐bearing joints was related more to the percentage gain than to the absolute gain in body weight. The joints of patients with a pre‐arthritis weight of 120 pounds exhibited more damage from a body‐weight increment of 50 pounds than did the joints of patients with a pre‐arthritis weight of 180 pounds. Thirty‐seven per cent of the D. A. patients were obese before manifesting arthritis. Obesity followed arthritis in only 12 per cent of the D. A. group compared with 35 per cent of the R. A. group. Difficulties in the dietary control of obesity in these free‐clinic arthritic patients are discussed. The weight‐reducing program became more effective after limiting eligibility for return visits to patients who lost a specified number of pounds.