Obesity as a risk factor for osteoarthritis: mechanical versus metabolic.

Obesity is a risk factor for the development and progression of radiograhic OA and probably works through both mechanical as well as metabolic pathways. We are just beginning to unravel these associations. By better understanding these associations, improved biomarkers for development and progression of OA and new novel therapies for the prevention and treatment of OA may be developed. The Osteoarthritis Initiative will help us understand these associations and allow us to evaluate new biomarkers for symptomatic incident and progression of established knee OA as well as the relationship of obesity and generalized OA.