Does total joint replacement effect slimming?

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is a growing health problem with increasing incidence. The close relationship between obesity and immobility and the diseases causing immobility are well established. The hypothesis that weight loss and evenly distribution of body weight will occur after surgery due to regained mobility was investigated. Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 139 patients (118 females and 21 males) who underwent total hip or knee replacement in the year 2005 in the same medical center. Patients were followed with body mass index (BMI) and regional body measurements at three different reference regions (circumference of upper arm CA, thigh CT and umbilicus CU). BMI was calculated using the 'BMI= Body mass (kg)/body height (meters)2' formula. After one year of follow-up same measurements were repeated and compared with preoperative values. None of the patients were given any, diet regimen or any type of drugs affecting metabolism. Results: Mean BMI values decreased from 29.17 kg/m(2) to 29.53 kg/m(2). There was no significant difference between local body measurements and body mass index and between pre- and postoperative regional body measurements of CA, CT, and CU after one year of follow-up. Conclusion: This study suggested that regaining of mobility with surgically reconstructed joints did not have an impact on body size and distribution by burning more calories at 1 year of follow-up.