Associations between weight change, knee subcutaneous fat and cartilage thickness in overweight and obese individuals: 4-Year data from the osteoarthritis initiative
Authors' conclusion
Weight change was associated with joint-adjacent SCF, but not with change in cartilage thickness. However, 4-year increases in joint-adjacent SCF were associated with decreases in cartilage thickness independent of baseline BMI and weight change group.
Study context
- Population
- Overweight and obese individuals from the Osteoarthritis Initiative
- Participants
- 399 participants
- Exposure
- >10% weight gain and >10% weight loss over 4 years vs matched controls with <3% weight change
- Weight gainn = 100
- Weight lossn = 100
- Controlsn = 199reference
- Outcome
- 4-year changes in joint-adjacent SCF and knee cartilage thickness (MRI)
- Follow-up
- 4 years
Methodological detailsOsteoarthritis Initiative data, matched control cohort, 3.0T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the right knee at baseline and 4 years, linear regression adjusted for age, sex, baseline body mass index (BMI), tibial diameter
- Osteoarthritis Initiative data
- Matched control cohort
- 3.0T MRI of the right knee at baseline and 4 years
- Linear regression adjusted for age, sex, baseline BMI, tibial diameter
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Beta range, medial/lateral joint sides
2.2-4.2 mm
P < 0.001
Weight loss · weight loss: significantly less joint-adjacent subcutaneous fat (SCF) than controls
Beta range
−1.4 to −3.9 mm
P < 0.001
Weight gain · weight gain: significantly greater joint-adjacent SCF than controls
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
4-year increase in joint-adjacent SCF vs change in cartilage thickness
- Increases in joint-adjacent SCF significantly associated with decreases in cartilage thickness
- P = 0.04
- Adjusted also for weight change group
Original publication
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