Fat, Bad Knees Reduce Healthy Years

Obese people with arthritic knees have about 3 1/2 fewer years of able, pain-free life than slim people with healthy knees. That estimate comes from a new study. It focused on U.S. adults ages 50 to 84. Researchers used census data and other sources. They made estimates of how long people live with obesity and knee osteoarthritis. They also calculated how much of that time is hampered by pain and disability. For example, people may have trouble walking. The study found that obese people with arthritic knees lose an average of 3 1/2 healthy years. For obese people without knee problems, the loss is 2 1/2 healthy years. People with knee arthritis and normal weight lose nearly 2 years of good health, the study found. The journal Annals of Internal Medicine published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it February 14.