Is Weight Loss Associated with Less Progression of Changes in Knee Articular Cartilage among Obese and Overweight Patients as Assessed with MR Imaging over 48 Months? Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Gersing AS, Schwaiger BJ, Nevitt MC, et al. · Radiology

Cartilage degeneration (WORMS) progressed less with weight loss and in dose-response fashion: score change 1.0 with >10% loss and 1.6 with 5-10% loss versus 2.3 with stable weight (p <= .002).

Population

Overweight/obese adults with or at risk of knee OA (Osteoarthritis Initiative), 48-month MRI follow-up

Intervention

Observed weight loss: >10% (n=82), 5-10% (n=238)

Comparator

Stable weight (n=320)

Limitations

Observational (weight loss not randomized); those who lose weight differ systematically from those who do not; semi-quantitative MRI score.