TJAs don't automatically reduce in weight loss

Many older adults with arthritis could find themselves slightly overweight because of their lack of mobility and improving an individual's capacity for physical activity through total joint arthroplasties (TJA) has been previously been linked to weight loss.

However, a recent study claims TJAs - commonly known as knee and hip replacements - do not automatically lead to a reduction in weight.

Researchers from San Diego State University and the University of California found no conclusive evidence of any effect on BMI from TJA when analysing 12 studies.

They claim that existing investigations into the relationship between weight loss and joint replacement surgery have been of "generally low quality", using small samples and "poor methods", which have increased the risk of bias.

This means that there is no conclusive pattern to suggest that TJA can help arthritis patients to lose weight, with some studies actually showing that individuals are more likely to increase in size following surgery.

One reason behind this could be that the removal of pain restores appetite in patients.

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