Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. In osteoarthritis the protecting cover of the joint breaks down. It leads to pain and inflammation in the joints. There is no known cause of osteoarthritis. It is found all over the world. All people from all races fall pray to this disease.

Even though no know cause for osteoarthritis is known yet the researchers have found out risk factors for osteoarthritis.

There are many risk factors for osteoarthritis such as,
• Age
• Gender
• Injuries
• Genetics
• Obesity
• Other inflammatory diseases

Obesity and other inflammatory diseases are some of the risk factors for osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a joint disease. When the cartilage breaks down or disintegrates the protection to the bone vanishes. After that the bones in the joint start rubbing on each other with every move.

The joints that are affected by osteoarthritis are, hand, knees, hip spine and feet. Obesity is a vital risk factor for osteoarthritis. Other inflammatory diseases such as Lyme disease and Perthes’ disease are also considered as risk factors for osteoarthritis.

Perthes’ disease is most commonly seen in children and this puts them at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative disease. It generally affects our weight bearing joints of the knees, spine and the hips. Excess body weight is one of the risk factors for osteoarthritis; it puts more pressure on your weight bearing joints. As a result the cartilage that protects the joints wears away. Then you get stiff and painful joints. If you are suffering from any inflammatory diseases, the wearing away of the cartilage takes place.

Obesity and other inflammatory diseases are considered risk factors for osteoarthritis. Research has shown that obesity is one of the risk factors for osteoarthritis for initiation and progression of knee osteoarthritis. The research also shows the effects of obesity on knee replacement. The estimation is a force as much as three to six times one’s body weight is exerted across the knee while walking. Being obese one puts that much more pressure on one’s knee. This hastens the process of wear and tear of the cartilage. It has been recorded that weight reduction has indeed helped in getting much relief in osteoarthritis.

Other inflammatory diseases also hasten the process of wearing away of the cartilage as the swelling of one’s joints makes it difficult to move. Then the whole process of lose muscles and breaking of cartilage happens and the person starts showing symptoms of osteoarthritis.