Reporter Mary Anne Dunkin writes that one of the best things you can do for arthritis is to lose excess weight. Susan M. Goodman, MD, rheumatologist at HSS, explains that in addition to added pressure on joints, fat tissue releases pro-inflammatory chemicals that may have a role in systemic inflammation.

Dr. Goodman notes that it can also help prevent psoriatic arthritis. 

"It may be that any injury to the joint - whether [a result of] sports or inflammation such as RA - may initiative cartilage loss, while the impact of excess weight increases the damage," Dr. Goodman adds.

This article appears in the Winter 2018-2019 print edition.