Obesity is fueling a rise in joint-replacement surgeries

The Boston Globe reports:

Surgery to replace damaged knees and hips with artificial joints has become so common among active baby boomers that it almost seems like a badge of honor. But evidence is growing that it's not only skiers and joggers fueling the explosion of operations, but obese Americans.

Some hospitals estimate that half to two-thirds of their patients having joint-replacement surgery are overweight or obese, and these patients are posing added challenges for medical teams.

They appear to suffer more complications during and after surgery, require more costly rehabilitation, and, because of the strength it takes to manipulate their bones, can even create physical risks for surgeons. Heavy patients face increased risks of blood clots, wound infections, and pneumonia, according to studies, causing some surgeons to turn away patients unless they lose weight.

Three in 10 American adults, 66 million people, are considered obese, up from 23 percent a decade ago, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And because this group is believed to have a higher incidence of osteoarthritis than people of normal weight, obese Americans may suffer a joint-replacement epidemic, in addition to increased rates of diabetes and high blood pressure.

We'd bet if America moved to a market based health care system those who are overweight would have incentives to lose weight.