Author

Felson (1996)¹⁶

Conclusions

*Osteoarthritis results in more than 70% of total knee & hip replacements, leading to significant health care costs.
*Literature review shows knee osteoarthritis to be four times more likely for individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher as compared with individuals with BMIs lower than 25.
*Additional research in the area of bone health & any relationship to weight is needed.

Concern

*All cross-sectional studies reviewed did not demonstrate the same positive relationship between obesity and osteoarthritis.

Author

Wardlaw (1996)¹⁷

Conclusions

*Literature review showed that the risk of osteoporosis is decreased for women with BMIs of at least 26-28, & increased for women with BMIs of 22-24.
*Additional research in the area of bone health & any relationship to weight is needed.

Concern

*Higher BMI is a potential risk factor for one bone disorder (osteoarthritis), but appears to be protective against another (osteoporosis).
*The current evidence does not support citation of increased health risks to the skeletal system as justification for defining increased BMI as a risk to health.