The Bare Bones of Obesity

Statistics released by the government late last year reveal the alarmingly high incidence of obesity in Britain today. It is estimated that more than 50% of the population will be obese in 2050 if the current trend continues.

Obesity is associated with a number of chronic health conditions such as heart disease diabetes and even some cancers (cervical, uterine, breast), costing the NHS (and the general public) around £45 million per year.

Primary health care professionals such as Osteopaths will tell you that it’s not only organs that suffer when we are overweight; our bones suffer as well. It is well reported that obesity is a major contributing factor to osteoarthritis, particularly osteoarthritis of the knee. Obesity can also play a role in menstrual pain, stress, incontinence, poor venous return (leading to varicosities), hernias and many more conditions which can be helped by osteopathic treatment.

A recent study by researchers from the University of Georgia (USA) have identified the negative impact that excess weight can have on our bone strength and overall bone health. When the bones of participants with the highest body fat were compared to those with ‘normal’ levels of body fat (less than 32 per cent), the ‘overweight’ groups bones were 8-9% weaker than those with normal levels of body fat.

Osteopaths have always been wary of manipulating patients who were underweight due to the increased risk of bony fracture as a result of weakened bones (osteoporosis), however, in light of this new research it appears that those who are overweight may well be at increased risk also.

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Tags : arthritis, knee, nhs, osteoarthritis, RSI, stress

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