Opportunities and challenges to reduce weight among knee osteoarthritis patients

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the single most common cause of disability in older adults and overweight is a major risk factor of OA. Weight reduction is important to treat OA and it is important to understand the knowledge and attitudes among OA patients to implement interventional programs. METHODS: Systematic sampling was used to recruit 255 patients from the Rheumatoid and Rehabilitation Hospital, Ragama. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and anthropometric assessments were done. RESULTS: Median age of the patients was 57 (IQR: 50 - 65) years and 235 (92%) of them were females. 21 % mentioned that they do not want to reduce weight, of them, 41 % were overweight and 8% were obese. 19% wanted to reduce weigh due to disfiguration and 75% of patients knew overweight is related to OA, however, less than 35% knew the association between overweight and diabetes, hypertension and psychological disturbances. 25% did not know the causes for overweight and 45% believed it was familial. Only 43%, 41% and 38% mentioned that heavy meals, meals with high fat and sugar and lack of activity/exercise cause overweight/obesity respectively. 56% believed exercises were bad for OA and 40% did not know the suitable exercises. 8% mentioned that they felt embarrassed to exercise and 14% did not have time. CONCLUSION: There are considerable misconceptions of overweight and weight management among OA patients and one fifth did not want to reduce weight. It is important to conduct educational programs for these patients and encourage weight reduction.