High body mass index in rheumatoid arthritis: why we should promote physical activity

Excerpt

We were interested in the recent publication of Albrecht et al. on body mass index (BMI) distribution in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [1]. According to this analysis of three large cohorts, the majority of patients with RA are overweight [1]. Low remission rates and common metabolic syndrome indicate that the increasing BMI in RA should be treated, but weight loss may not be the solution as it has been linked to increased mortality [2]. Working on nutritional status in RA, we had the opportunity to compare the body composition analysis (DEXA) and physical activity levels recorded over 3 days with Actimeters (SenseWear Arm Bands, Body Media, Stanford, CA, USA) in overweight versus normal-weight patients. We feel that our results may help orientate management despite the obesity paradox in RA. …