More than a third of the people with OA suffer painful effects in one or both knees .2-4 In fact, OA of the knee is the most common form of OA,3,4 all the body weight and pressure you force down on your knees with every step, stride, stretch, squat, staircase, sashay, samba,or golf swing can cause further risk .5

Facts on Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis; it affects 1 in 10 Canadian adults.

1 in 10 Adults

Purple Arrows
OA is more prevalent in women than men across all ages.

Purple Arrows
People of any age can get OA, but it is morecommon as we age.

Age Icons

What is Metabolic Osteoarthritis?

Being only 10 pounds overweight increases the force on the knee by 30-60 pounds with each step.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder with symptoms in the hands, knees, hips, back, and neck. It is unclear exactly how excess weight influences OA. Clearly, being overweight increases the load placed on the joints such as the knee, which increases stress and could possibly hasten the breakdown of cartilage. For example, it is estimated that a force of nearly three to six times one’s body weight is exerted across the knee while walking; an increase in body weight increases the force by this amount. However, overweight has also been associated with higher rates of hand OA in some studies suggesting the involvement of a circulating systemic factor as well.