A research study conducted by Henning Biddal et al at the Parker Institute, Denmark whose results were published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases has shown that weight loss program was successful in lessening the pain in patients with Osteoarthritis.
The study was a 1-year randomized controlled trial conducted to evaluate 1-year symptomatic improvement in obese patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) on an intensive low-energy diet (LED) maintained by frequent consultations with a dietician compared to minimal attention. The LED programme consisted of group therapy with dietary consultations and two periods of a low-calorie diet of 810 kcal/day during weeks 0–8 and weeks 32–36. The control group only received dietary instruction and attention for 2 h at baseline, and at weeks 8, 32, 36 and 52. Primary end point (total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index) was assessed as the mean group difference during and after 1 year. After 1 year, mean weight loss in the LED group was –10.9 kg (11%) versus –3.6 kg (4%) in the control group. There was no difference between the groups in total WOMAC index (p=0.11), although both groups improved. However, the LED intervention resulted in less WOMAC pain (7.7 mm), with a group mean difference of 7.2 mm. After one year 14 (32.8%) responded to LED versus 7 (15.6%) to control, with an absolute benefit of 16.3%. Continuous reinforcement of a weight loss programme can be successful over a year in obese knee OA patients. Weight loss was statistically reflected only by a reduction in pain.
Ref: Ann Rheum Dis 2011;70:1798-1803 doi:10.1136/ard.2010.142018
