Surge in Arthritis Forecast in the USA

I just read a shocking bit of information the other day. According to the CDC the prevalence in arthritis from being overweight as a result of inactivity and expanding waistlines will reach 67 million over the next 20 years! Up 46% from now.

Currently this is costing $128 billion dollars in medical expenses to the US government and is projected to rise significantly. The areas affected are the joints in the hip, knee and ankle. Most of the people inflicted will not be able to move around. This is a terrible and sad situation.

As a full time professional personal trainer in San Diego, I have my share clients who fall into this category

Weight loss is slow because the client limited to a few specific exercises. fat burning cardio on the most effective machines is usually low impact ond only done for minutes before the pain stops them from exercising. I have to keep their spirits up and constantly motivate them.

One client in particular has had a succession of orthopedic surgeries over the past 5 years we have been training together. First the hip resurfacing and most recently an ankle arthroplasty which has taken almost one year to rehab.

As you can deduce, this client regained most of the weight he lost prior to surgery . It is a slippery slope when you get to this certain point and very frustrating for the individual.


While many arthritis patients take medication for their pain, public health officials are pushing physical-activity programs as along term solution both for those with arthritis and those at risk-particularly older, overweight adults.

Interestingly enough only 11% of adults who suffer from arthritis participate in CDC funded exercise and weight reduction programs in 36 states around the US, according to Dr. Helmick spokesman from the CDC.

The problem lies in the fact that obese adults are generally very lazy and lack lifestyle discipline. Many prefer to suffer the rath of joint pain versus loose 15 pounds of weight which CDC experts claim will cut the pain in half!