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SUMMARY
The patients most at risk for disability from
osteoarthritis are obese African American
and Hispanic/Latina women because
their symptoms of OA are more severe
than those of Whites and their obesity
exacerbates their OA condition. Addressing
obesity among various racial/ethnic
populations requires an understanding not
only of the biological causes of obesity, but
also of the culture, values, resources, and environments that influence eating and physical
activity behaviors and choices. A physically inactive, obese, and immobile body can head
down a path toward chronic disease and illness, medication dependency, disability, anxiety,
and depression. Just as obesity can lead to OA, particularly in the knee, so can OA lead to
obesity when patients avoid exercise because of arthritic pain.
To break this cycle, healthcare providers should intervene to encourage increased physical
activity and weight loss. Patient-based factors can be addressed by improvements in
culturally competent patient education programs aimed at increasing patient knowledge on
how to access care, actively participate in medical decision-making, and follow through on
medical treatment plans (eg, medications, diet, and exercise). Providers will contribute to the
elimination of healthcare disparities through improvements in both cultural “competency” and
communication with patients that is enhanced by recognition of cultural factors, health literacy,
learning styles, and principles of adult education. Importantly, providers should assess for the
presence of unconscious biases against obese individuals or racial/ethnic groups and make
conscious efforts to mitigate those biases before they present barriers to treatment.
RESOURCES
Michelle Obama’s Health Initiative, President’s Challenge
American Psychological Association
American Physical Therapy Association – For the Public