Managing Arthritis: Improving Lives

Some 50 million adults in the United States live with arthritis, the most common cause of disability. In 21 million of those who have arthritis, it triggers joint inflammation, causes pain and stiffness, and limits activities essential to daily living, such as sitting, bending, standing, climbing stairs and walking. As the U.S. population ages and obesity rates increase, the number of people with the condition is expected to skyrocket. By 2030, an estimated 67 million adults will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

Arthritis is more common among women than men and often occurs with other chronic diseases. An estimated 47 percent of U.S. adults with arthritis have at least one other chronic condition. The most common conditions found with arthritis are heart disease, chronic lung conditions, diabetes and stroke—which all share obesity as a risk factor. Although the relationship between arthritis and other chronic conditions is not entirely clear, arthritis rates are substantially higher among those who are obese.