YOUNGER TKA PATIENTS FATTER THAN OLDER (Orthopedics This Week)
Stop blaming obesity among those 65 and older for the unprecedented increase in knee replacement surgeries. It turns out those under 65 are fatter! Data gathered by more than 125 orthopedic surgeons from 22 states across the U.S. revealed rising rates of obesity among those under the age of 65.
In the first 9,000 patients whose outcomes were tracked in FORCE-TJR, the national research program led by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55% of patients under age 65 were considered technically obese compared to 43% age 65 and older.
“Our study shows that younger patients are more obese and experience the same amount of pain and functional disability as older patients and in some cases even more,” said David Ayers, M.D., Chair of the Department of Orthopedics and Physical Rehabilitation and director of the Musculoskeletal Center of Excellence at the University Of Massachusetts Medical School.
The study found that twice as many younger patients were in the morbidly obese category with a body mass index greater than 40%—11% of those under age 65 versus 5% age 65 and older. The younger patients also ...
