problems that are usually attributed to the arthritis itself,” said study author Dr. Joshua Baker.
“In addition, unintentional weight loss should alert us that the patient may be becoming frail and is at risk for developing new disability,” he added. Baker is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition. It develops when immune cells that normally fight germs attack the lining of the joints or cartilage. This causes the joints to swell and the surrounding bones, ligaments, and muscles to gradually erode. Rheumatoid arthritis worsens over time, often leading to disability.
For the study, Baker and his colleagues looked at the effects of obesity on the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in just over 25,000 people with the disease.
The investigators found that the disease advanced more quickly among those who were very obese. This was true regardless of the level of inflammation in their joints.
In addition, people who were thin but lost weight without trying also became