There’s no way around it: carrying significant excess weight is bad for your joints. It accelerates wear and tear, and subsequent pain, on joints. It also raises the risk of setbacks following joint replacement surgery.
“Increased body weight increases the forces on joints, which can lead to more pain and degenerative disease,” explained Ryan Sullivan, MD, orthopaedic surgeon and joint replacement expert at Endeavor Health.
For patients in need of joint replacement, achieving a healthier weight and BMI (body mass index) can significantly improve surgical outcomes.
Reducing the risk of complications
While everyone's ideal weight is different, studies show that patients with varying levels of obesity face a significantly increased risk of complications following joint replacement.
With each increasing weight class, the chance for complications rises. These issues can range from surgical issues like wound healing problems and infection, to wearing out or loosening of the implant, to medical complications such as blood clots, explained Dr. Sullivan.
Carrying extra pounds also increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. This is significant because uncontrolled diabetes affects blood flow, which can lead to poor wound healing and increased risk of infection. When an infection occurs in a replaced joint, it can become a very serious problem, potentially leading to multiple additional surgeries, including implant removal, cautioned Dr. Sullivan.
Professional guidance for safe, effective weight loss
The best way to ensure a successful joint replacement is to be in the best possible health going into the procedure.
Doctors often advise overweight individuals to work on decreasing their BMI prior to undergoing surgery. BMI is generally categorized into ranges like 25-30 (overweight), 30-35 (obese), 35-40 (obese with medical comorbidities), or 40+ (morbidly obese).
“We want to give every patient the best chance at successful surgery,” said Dr. Sullivan. “And for some people that means optimizing their weight before undergoing joint replacement.” Even losing 10-20 percent of your BMI can make a significant improvement in your health and risk reduction, he added.
Patients with diabetes will also need recent lab work to ensure their condition is well-managed before joint replacement surgery.
Dr. Sullivan encourages patients to talk to their primary care physicians and take advantage of the professional guidance from dietitians and weight loss clinicians at Endeavor Health and other medical centers.
Endeavor Health’s weight management clinics provide comprehensive programs offering healthy diet modifications, mindfulness and exercise programs, and medication when appropriate.
“Our goal is to give you the best opportunity for a successful surgery, free of any complications,” emphasized Dr. Sullivan.
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