Recent study comparing body mass index and skeletal muscle mass in relation to osteoarthritis risk

What is the relationship to your body weight and osteoarthritis risk?

Two important factors contribute to our individual body weight, our skeletal muscle mass and our fat mass. Body mass index (BMI) is the most widely used measurement for obesity. The BMI approximates body mass using a mathematical ratio of weight and height [(weight in kg ÷ height in meters2).

BMI= weight in kg/height in meters (squared)

Here are the ranges for BMI:

• Underweight (<18.5)


• Normal Weight (18.5 - 24.9)


• Overweight (25 - 29.9)


• Obese(>30)

A recent study, not surprisingly, found that fat mass is a risk factor for osteoarthritis as extra body weight puts added stress on weight bearing joints such as the hip and knee joints (Sowers et al, 2007). However, skeletal muscle mass was found to have a protective effect on weight bearing joints. Therefore, they cautioned that interventions that simply focus on weight loss should be aware that this may negatively impact muscle mass (Sowers et al, 2007).


Sowers MF, Yosef M, Jamadar D, Jacobson J, Karvonen-Gutierrez C, Jaffe M. BMI vs body composition and radiographically defined osteoarthritis of the knee in women: a 4-year follow-up study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2007 Sep 19;