Community-based Diet & Exercise Program for Knee Pain In Obese/Overweight Osteoarthritis Patients
Eight hundred and twenty-three (n=823) overweight/obese knee osteoarthritis patients ≥50 years or older were randomized to receive an 18-month diet & exercise program (n=414) or an attention control (n=409), delivered in a community-based setting. The primary outcome of interest was the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score. Secondary outcomes of interest included body weight, waist circumference, WOMAC function, 6-minute walk test, pain medication use, and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) physical and mental subscores. All outcomes were assessed upon completion of the 18-month study. Results of this study found diet & exercise to result in a higher rate of clinically meaningful WOMAC pain score reduction vs. control. Body weight, waist circumference, WOMAC function score, 6-minute walk test, and SF-36 physical subscores were also superior in the diet & exercise group,