Body weight and how the body functions are tied together; too much causes problems, but so does too little. The body relies on a certain amount of fat, muscle and tissue in order to function and without it, things start breaking down. Too much of it though, and things continue to break down. If you are having chronic joint pain, it may be time to look at your lifestyle and your body weight and see if there is a problem there to be found.
With obesity on the rise, joint pain has also been seen on the rise for many people and the reason for this is simple; the additional weight puts wear and tear on the joints, leading to stiffness, pain, and strain. The problem is further compounded by the fact that overweight people tend to exercise far less and the joints and the muscles and bones supporting them become soft and fragile; in other words, more easy to strain and hurt. Many joint diseases such as osteoarthritis have a strong tie to the body weight of the sufferer; the higher the weight, the more likely it is that the disease will be contracted. Although the hips are legs are more commonly affected, there have also been links seen to arthritis in the hands. The obesity causes further problems with treatments for the joint pain; surgeries are more complicated, some medicines do not take as well, and nothing ever quite seems to work right anyway.
Obese people complain more of aches and pains than their fitter (not thinner) counterparts; however, the obese are not the only ones who can suffer from weight related joint pain. Overly thin people can also get joint pain because they have little muscle and tissue to cushion their joints and so are more prone to pain, especially after exercising. In this case, the joint pain does not come from strain, but rather from a lack of muscle tone to support the body, so when someone too thin does exercise, joint pain can ensue. It is not as common to see this as it is to see joint pain in overweight people, it can happen, especially in people who crash diet and lose muscle tone along with calories. Keep in mind that if you are healthy and slender, you should not have to worry about joint pain; it is only those who are too thin with no muscle tone who may find that joint pain happens.
In order to prevent joint pain and help ease current joint pain, especially in the knees and hips, you should focus on losing weight, eating more proteins and Omega-3 fatty acids, and exercising. Eating well will not only let you lose weight, but will also strengthen your joints. As for exercise, start out slowly; but know that every little bit counts. Swimming for example is a great exercise because it is easy on your joints and allows you to lose weight safely. It's not hard to make these lifestyle changes and it's well worth it.
Joint pain, like any pain, is the best way your body knows to tell you that something is wrong and needs attention. Joint pain is most commonly caused by wear and tear on the cartilage which stems from carrying too much weight or doing too many strenuous activities without the proper preparation. However, it can also be an indicator that you are not giving your body enough to work with and it is hurting itself to stay alive. The remedy for joint pain in any case involving weight is to get your weight back on track, eat better and manage your pain with the help of a doctor or therapist.
