More than a third of the world's population has arthritis, inflammation of joints and other chronic joint problems. Cases have nearly doubled in the last 20 years and this condition affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men. Currently there is an epidemic of overweight and obesity with levels reaching approximately 60% of the world's population and there is a strong correlation between this rise and the projected rise in arthritis cases.

Arthritis is a general term for more than 100 conditions that affect the joints - places where bone meets bone such as your elbow or knee in which the cartilage - the natural shock absorber that cushions the insides of the joints begins to break down causing pain and swelling. Arthritis a slowly evolving degenerative disease stealthily sneaking up on its victim over many years or even decades and can severely damage the joints. This is a major cause of pain and physical disability in older adults.

Joint pain is strongly associated with a person's body weight as this increases the load and puts extra burden on the weight bearing joints (back, hips, knees, ankles, and feet) and hastens the breakdown of cartilage. Overweight adults literally squeeze the life out of their joints and are more likely to develop arthritis than normal weight adults with the hips and knees bearing the pressure of the extra weight.

Another important contributing factor to being the victim of arthritis is lack of muscular strength around the joints. Without this support the joint bears the brunt of the shock and impact from our everyday activities hastening degenerative changes. With all the conveniences of our modern world, more and more of us are living an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and putting our health in jeopardy.

The pain of arthritis can be severe in overweight individuals and can serve as a barrier to physical activity. Then, a vicious cycle is created when decreased activity leads to further increased weight, which in turn leads to further pain. To break this cycle you have to change your attitude and behavior to make the necessary changes in your lifestyle to help yourself.

By strengthening the muscles, tendons and ligaments through strength training exercise they become stronger around the joints and the better able they are to support and protect them, even those that are weak and damaged from arthritis. Strengthening exercise also helps keep the joints as flexible as possible, improving joint mobility and allowing improved physical function. Your exercise program can also enhance weight loss and promote long-term weight management in those with arthritis who are overweight.

The old adage "use it or lose it" is true and one of the worst things a person with arthritis can do is sit around and rest. A proper exercise program that includes at least 60% strength training exercise is a lifestyle choice that you need to make to prevent the progression of arthritis and improve the quality of your life.

Remember, exercise is good for you no matter what your condition; you don't have to spend the rest of your life in a painful and hurting body. So get started right away and begin reaping the many wonderful benefits of a balanced exercise program.