Many health conditions are worsened by excess weight, and the stress of extra weight on joints can lead to painful conditions, particularly of the knees and feet. It makes sense, then, that losing weight often helps to relieve some kinds of pain.
Finding an eating plan that is healthful and enjoyable will help you stick with your weight loss goals for the long term and maintain any weight loss you manage to achieve.
To manage your weight, follow these simple rules to cut back on calories:
As for physical activity, you'll find that many forms of exercise are more difficult for people with hip or knee pain. Exercises that are easy on the joints include swimming and water aerobics. Talk with your doctor or physical therapist, who can recommend other ways to incorporate physical activity without making your joint pain worse.
There is no magic answer as to how much weight you need to lose in order to make a difference. As few as 10 pounds or 10% of your overall weight might help, but this can vary from one individual to another.
For more tips on relieving pain naturally, check out Pain Relief Without Drugs or Surgery, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.
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Losing weight can help you lose the pain, too - Harvard Health
