Literature Review: The Impact of Obesity on the Incidence of Osteoarthritis

Nabila Aulia (Student of the Medical Profession Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar)
Indah Lestari Daeng Kanang (Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia)
Hassma Idris Nohong (Department of ENT-KL, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia)

Journal of Asian-african Focus in Health
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): Journal of Asian-african Focus in Health

Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative joint disease that is one of the main causes of pain, activity limitations, and disability in adults and the elderly. Obesity is known to be an important risk factor that plays a role in the occurrence and progression of osteoarthritis through biomechanical and inflammatory mechanisms. The increasing prevalence of obesity in various countries makes the relationship between obesity and osteoarthritis a health problem that requires attention. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between obesity and the incidence of osteoarthritis based on the results of published studies. This study used a literature review method by examining scientific articles obtained from the PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, ProQuest, and ResearchGate databases. The selected articles were published between 2016–2026, available in Indonesian or English, and discussed the relationship between obesity and osteoarthritis. Analysis was conducted using a narrative approach and the PICOS framework on 10 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that all articles analyzed showed a relationship between obesity and osteoarthritis, especially knee osteoarthritis. Individuals with obesity have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis than individuals of normal weight. The risk increases with increasing body mass index (BMI). In addition to increasing the mechanical load on joints, obesity also triggers chronic inflammation through the production of adipokines and proinflammatory cytokines that accelerate cartilage damage. Obesity is associated with increased pain, decreased physical function, decreased quality of life, and an increased risk of sarcopenia in osteoarthritis patients. Weight loss, physical exercise, and bariatric surgery have been shown to significantly improve symptoms and joint function. Obesity is an important risk factor associated with the occurrence and progression of osteoarthritis through biomechanical and inflammatory mechanisms. Weight control through a healthy lifestyle, regular physical activity, and weight loss interventions is an important strategy in the prevention and management of osteoarthritis.