Knees ache? Promise yourself to lose 1 pound. Yes, you read that right. Just 1 little pound could mean a lot to your knees. If you are overweight or obese, dropping 1 pound feels more like losing 4 pounds to this all-important joint.

Your knees are one of the most powerful joints in your body. They constantly push you up or lower you down, add a spring to your two-step or let you dribble a mean ball. But they're also prone to wear and tear. See, your knees are the UPS men of your body. They carry around your bones, muscles, organs, and everything else, no matter how heavy the package -- and without the help of a hand truck. Just as it's easier for the UPS guy to carry a book than a refrigerator, it's easier for your knees to haul lighter freight. When there's too much stress on this joint, you feel the wear and tear of osteoarthritis -- mild to severe pain, swelling, stiffness, and creaking in your joints.

Also, when you're toting around excess pounds, the way you walk shifts to accommodate your weight and steady your balance -- we docs call this misalignment. Often, these changes place extra stress on already strained knees. And misaligned knees, like misaligned tires, suffer uneven wear and tear that destroys knee cushions even faster than it ruins tires.

That's why losing even as little as 1 pound gives knees a much-needed break and may help prevent osteoarthritis in the first place. Of course, if you're carrying a lot of weight, losing more than 1 pound would be even better. But 1 pound? YOU can do that. Start now, and feel better fast.

Thoughts or comments? Post them to the YOU Docs Blog discussion forum.
General questions or feedback? Send an e-mail.