Scientists from the University of Birmingham have found that obesity can worsen arthritis by disrupting cells in the lining of joints. The research was published in the journal Clinical and Translational Medicine.
The study authors took biopsy specimens from several joints in patients with normal and overweight (body mass index greater than 30 kg/m²). They found molecular changes that lead to increased inflammation in the joints in obese patients.
As the scientists explain, obesity creates an environment in the body that negatively affects synovial fibroblasts, the stem cells involved in the production of lubricating fluid for joints. These cells undergo such a change during obesity that they contribute to the spread of inflammation in the joint and accelerate joint destruction.
Interestingly, changes were observed not only in the knees and hip joints, but also in non-stressed joints, for example, in the hands. This means that joint disease in obesity is a result of various biochemical changes, not just the inevitable wear and tear of joints due to weight.