Some Talking Points on Obesity and Knee Replacement Surgery

Both Obesity & Knee Replacements on the Rise

From 1993 to 2009, both the number of performed knee replacement surgeries and obesity rate have risen among Americans. Though this is only a correlation, it’s a good indicator of the tie between excess weight and poor knee health.

Knees More Likely to Deteriorate than Hips

While both knee and hip replacement have risen in recent years, they have not risen equally. While hip replacements doubled between 1993 and 2009, knee replacement surgeries have more than tripled.

Weight Problems Account for 95% of Knee Replacements

Lastly, and possibly most eye opening, is the fact that 95% of knee replacement surgeries were performed due to weight issues. So, while correlation does not imply causation – causation means causation.

For more specifics, check out the study from the June issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.