Arthritis Prevention

Healthy weight and your joints

People with overweight or obesity are more likely to get knee osteoarthritis. Extra weight puts more stress on joints and can make knee or hip pain worse.1

Why it matters

The CDC says extra weight can affect metabolism as well as mechanical load, raising osteoarthritis risk especially in weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees.2

What helps

  • Regular joint-friendly activity, which helps both weight and joint function.
  • Strength training to support the muscles around the knees and hips.
  • Talking with a provider about a realistic plan.

Questions

Does losing weight help knee pain?

The CDC says extra weight puts more stress on joints and can make knee or hip osteoarthritis pain worse, and lists keeping a healthy weight among the proven ways to manage osteoarthritis.

Which joints are most affected by weight?

Weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips.

This page summarizes public health guidance. It is not medical advice and cannot diagnose joint pain. If you have pain, swelling, or stiffness that lasts, see a health care provider.

  1. CDC, “Arthritis Risk Factors”, https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/risk-factors/index.html, read November 11, 2026. ↩
  2. CDC, “Osteoarthritis”, https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/osteoarthritis/index.html, read November 11, 2026. ↩