Related Experiment Videos
Body fat distribution and osteoarthritis.
M A Davis1, J M Neuhaus, W H Ettinger
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0560.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|October 1, 1990
Summary
Body fat distribution was studied in relation to osteoarthritis. While body mass index correlated with knee and combined hand/foot osteoarthritis, specific fat patterns were not consistently linked to joint disease.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Epidemiology
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disease.
- Understanding risk factors like body fat distribution is crucial for prevention and management.
- Previous research suggested links between central obesity and other chronic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body fat distribution and single/combined site osteoarthritis.
- To examine relationships with hand, foot, and knee osteoarthritis.
- To determine if central obesity patterns are linked to OA.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the US Health Examination Survey I (HES I) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I (NHANES I).
- Included adults aged 35-79 (HES I) and 45-74 (NHANES I) with relevant radiographs and anthropometric measures.
- Employed sex-specific polychotomous logistic regression, adjusting for age, race, and body mass index.
Main Results:
- Body mass index showed a positive association with knee OA and combined hand/foot OA.
- A peripheral body girth pattern was linked to combined hand and foot OA.
- No consistent association was found between body fat distribution patterns and knee, hand, or foot OA individually.
Conclusions:
- Central body fat patterns, linked to other diseases, were not associated with hand, foot, or knee OA.
- Body mass index is a significant factor in knee and combined hand/foot OA.
- Further research may clarify the complex relationship between body composition and OA development.