Waking up in the morning with a little bit of joint stiffness isn’t uncommon, but that doesn’t make it any more pleasant. Many conditions lead to joint pain and stiffness, including obesity. Extra weight puts added pressure on your joints, leading to more wear and tear than normal.
At Lori Scott Family Care, our team helps you address your weight problems. Not only does Dr. Scott help you get your body weight under control, she also gives you the tools to keep the pounds off. This helps you keep your body fit and healthy, along with your joints.
If you’ve been putting on extra pounds, you might not even want to step foot on the scale. However, just feeling a little heavier doesn’t mean you’re obese or overweight. So how can you tell if you’re tipping the scales in the wrong direction?
Body mass index, or BMI, is the standard for figuring out if you’re normal weight or overweight. Your BMI is calculated using your height and your weight to determine your body mass. There are four subcategories in the BMI scale, which include:
Dr. Scott uses the BMI scale to not only determine if you’re overweight, but also to screen for possible health disorders that follow obesity. She does a comprehensive medical assessment and physical exam to determine the need for further intervention and treatments.
It’s no surprise that excess weight is hard on your body—in more ways than one. Not only does being overweight increase your risk for certain medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease, it also takes a toll on your joints.
Extra pounds put unnecessary pressure on each and every joint in your body. Whether it’s your knees, your back, or your hips, this pressure may lead to degeneration and pain quicker than it would if you were of a normal weight.
For example, one of the most common painful joint conditions is known as osteoarthritis. This is the breakdown of the cushioning in your joints due to wear and tear. Osteoarthritis is very common, especially if you’re overweight, because of the excess force put on the load-bearing joints in your body.
Obesity also leads to inflammation throughout your body, which also is a contributing factor in osteoarthritis and joint pain. If you’re struggling to do simple tasks like taking a walk or climbing a flight of stairs, it’s time to consider weight loss to help ease your joint pain.
The first step to getting healthier, less painful joints, is to commit to making some changes in your lifestyle. This not only includes incorporating light exercise into your routine, but also changes in your dietary habits as well.
Although diet and exercise work for some people, it doesn’t work for everyone. If you’ve tried modifying your eating habits and adding in activity, but are still struggling with your weight, you aren’t alone. Dr. Scott offers many different weight loss options for you to achieve your goals and kick your joint pain to the curb.
Dr. Scott provides the medical knowledge and support that you need to shed the excess weight on your body. She addresses your specific needs and concerns, and takes a medical approach to weight loss. This includes options such as:
Dr. Scott offers other types of treatment as well, including medication that helps suppress your appetite, along with B12 injections to help you on your weight loss journey.
The sooner you see Dr. Scott, the quicker you can start enjoying the things that joint pain has made you miss out on.
If you’re tired of dealing with the problems associated with excess weight, call Dr. Scott by calling our office at 252-238-7079. You can also book a consultation online today.
