Progression of cartilage degeneration and clinical symptoms in obese and overweight individuals is dependent on the amount of weight loss: 48-month data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

• Published in: Osteoarthritis and cartilage 2016-07, Vol.24 (7), p.1126-1134
• Main Authors: Gersing, A.S, Solka, M, Joseph, G.B, Schwaiger, B.J, Heilmeier, U, Feuerriegel, G, Nevitt, M.C, McCulloch, C.E, Link, T.M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cartilage Diseases; Cartilage imaging; Cartilage, Articular; Humans; Knee Joint; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Obesity; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Overweight; Rheumatology; T2 relaxation time; Weight Loss
• ISSN: 1063-4584; 1522-9653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2016.01.984

Summary Objective To investigate compositional cartilage changes measured with 3T MRI-based T2 values over 48 months in overweight and obese individuals with different degrees of weight loss (WL) and to study whether WL slows knee cartilage degeneration and symptom worsening. Design We studied participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative with risk factors or radiographic evidence of mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis with a baseline BMI ≥25 kg/m2 . We selected subjects who over 48 months lost a, moderate (BMI change, 5–10%WL, n  = 180) or large amount of weight (≥10%WL, n  = 78) and frequency-matched these to individuals with stable weight (10%WL group compared to the stable weight group (both comparisons, P  = 0.04). Conclusions WL over 48 months is associated with slowed knee cartilage degeneration and improved knee symptoms.