Weight could be a factor in treating rheumatoid arthritis

By Kathryn Doyle NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who are overweight when they are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are less likely to be able to control the disease well in its early stages than people of a healthy weight, according to a new study. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks its own connective tissue, destroying the cartilage that protects joints. Unlike the more common osteoarthritis, or “wear-and-tear” arthritis, which affects people as they get older, rheumatoid arthritis can happen at any age. The study included almost 500 adults in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis between 2006 and 2009.



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