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29 Jan 2026Obesity rates increased by 300% between 1975 and 2024. Worldwide, 159 million kids and teens are obese. That’s 16.2% of all boys and girls around the world. Adult rates are even higher at almost 880 million.
In California, about 1 in 3 adults (8.5 million) were obese in 2023. Another 9.5 million were overweight. Among teens, the rate increases to 37.5% and includes overweight teens, too. Obesity impacts your body in many ways, including joint health.
Obesity: It’s Not Always As Simple As It Seems
Obesity is a condition in which a person has too much body fat. It’s typically measured using your Body Mass Index (BMI). It’s calculated by:
- Multiply your weight in pounds by 703. Jot that number down.
- Multiply your height in inches by your height in inches and note that number.
- Divide the first result (weight) by the second result (height).
- The result is your BMI.
A BMI of 30 or higher qualifies as obesity. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. There are three classes of obesity.
- Class I – BMI is 30 to 34.9
- Class II – BMI is 35 to 39.9
- Class III (Severe Obesity) – 40 or greater
So many people associate obesity with overeating and laziness. It’s not that simple. While the energy you burn and calories you consume can be a factor, obesity can also be tied to:
- Excessive stress
- Genetics
- Medications
- Metabolic syndrome
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Poor sleep quality
Even if it’s a matter of caloric intake versus exercise, there may be underlying factors. You may have a job that requires you to sit in one place for hours. Your budget may not allow you to afford fresh produce and lean meats. You may struggle with emotional eating due to past trauma.
This is why it’s important to work with a doctor on a weight-loss plan. If underlying health conditions are causing your weight gain, the right doctor can address them. If you’re taking medications that cause weight gain, such as antidepressants or glucocorticoids, another form of the same medication may help.
Emotional eating is addressed through therapy. Therapy is the first step toward a weight-loss program that works well and provides you with the tools and knowledge to keep those pounds from coming back. If you do nothing, you risk joint problems that cannot support your weight.
How It Affects Joint Health
Being overweight places additional strain on your joints. Even 10 pounds of extra weight increases the pressure on your joints. Every 10 pounds of extra weight adds 4 to 6 pounds of pressure to your knees.
Suppose you’re 50 pounds overweight. That extra weight puts 200 to 300 pounds of additional force on your knees. It’s like carrying another person on your back every day. It’s hard on the joints and wears down the cartilage faster.
That’s one problem caused by obesity. The extra pressure on the joints can also lead to joint misalignment. As joints become misaligned, they place uneven stress on one side of the joint, affecting your gait and balance.
You’re favoring one leg over the other, which causes muscle pain from the added strain. While exercise is vital, the pain makes it hard to get up and move, worsening joint and muscle pain.
As the pain increases, you may consider joint replacement surgery. It’s usually a last resort because the surgery carries higher risks, including slower healing and a greater risk of infection. It’s better to consider non-surgical treatments and doctor-guided weight-loss surgeries.
Non-Surgical Treatment Approaches That Work
Surgery doesn’t have to be the only answer. Medical weight loss under a doctor’s supervision is an important first step. You want a plan tailored to your needs. A one-size-fits-all approach isn’t appropriate. It may help you lose weight, but keeping it off is unlikely without support through every stage.
Non-surgical treatments help joints heal using proven techniques. A combination of approaches is best, which is why you should work with an orthopedic specialist.
EMS Training
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training is a workout performed while wearing a suit with various electrodes. As you complete the exercises in this suit, your muscles receive a small electrical impulse that causes them to contract. That contraction stimulates the muscle fibers, making the workout more effective.
FDA-Approved Treatments
Biologic-based treatments require you to have some blood drawn. The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the white and red blood cells from the platelets. Those platelets are injected into the joint to accelerate healing of the ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Because it’s your own blood, there’s no chance of rejection.
IV-Drip Therapy
When joint pain is caused by arthritis, inflammation is problematic. IV drip therapy replenishes your body with nutrients that help reduce inflammation. Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties and supports the immune system. B vitamins and magnesium also support the immune system and reduce cellular stress.
Physical Therapy
If months or years of low activity or a sedentary lifestyle have weakened your joints and muscles, it’s hard to dive into a fitness routine. A physical therapist has a deep understanding of how muscles, joints, and bones move in sync.
With this knowledge, you can create a balanced, effective program of exercises that help you get moving and increase your range of motion, stamina, and flexibility. As your body grows stronger and is ready for new challenges, your physical therapist updates your program to address them.
Tissue Repair Therapy
Tissue repair therapy is an FDA-approved injection of your own biomatter. Some of your blood is drawn in the medical office and processed to separate the biomatter and red and white cells. Once separated, the bio-matter is injected into your joint, where it helps your tissue cells heal.
Start With Medically-Supervised Weight Loss
Dr. Erick Green’s custom weight-loss program focuses on everything needed to get and keep extra pounds off. Every patient’s journey is unique, so your program includes some or all of the following.
- A comprehensive consultation
- Behavioral changes
- Weight loss training, including EMS workouts
- Nutritious, personalized meal plans
- Weight loss prescriptions or injections, if needed
As the weeks go on, you check in regularly. You have a supportive team helping you through tough spots and celebrating your successes. As you meet goals, you move toward new ones with the same supportive doctors, physical trainers, and nurses you’ve worked with to this point.
Eventually, your three- or six-week weight-loss program ends, but you’ve learned the tools to keep the weight off. If you want to keep going, you can continue coming to Premium Sports & Orthopedics for EMS workouts, FDA-approved treatments and therapies, and IV drip therapy to boost your immune system if you’ve been ill.
Easily schedule your first appointment online. Premium Sports & Orthopedics offers appointments throughout the week. Same-day or next-day openings are often available, so you can set a time that’s convenient for you.
