Am I too fat or is there another reason my knees hurt so much?

[selfidentifyinggiraffe]

I am quite overweight and I definitely need to do something about that

But my knees have never been so painful 😖

No recent injuries etc, yet if I sit with my knees bent for more than half a minute or so they are making me have to breath through the pain as I straighten them (I'm not saying its as painful as labour but seems to require me doing that to manage the pain)

I will go to the GP but just baffled- it's both knees and been happening here and there through my life but usually went away within a week and was one knee (so I assumed injury)

I now have had both knees do this to me for about 4-5 weeks. It's been fine as in I've still managed to do everything more or less but today it's so bad I have had to lie down and straighten my legs as knees are burning/aching just walking around

I'm only in my 30s.... it's unlikely to be arthritis isn't it?

A calorie deficit will suffice until you are not in pain and can exercise. I lost weight with the my fitness pal app. Was easy once I got into the habit of scanning everything. It works out your daily calories based on your weight, activity levels and desired loss per week. You can do this 💪🏽

I wouldn't have thought your weight has caused the issue at your age, but it probably is exacerbating it.

I'm late 30s and the same size as you and have never had any problems with my knees, despite having been overweight all my life.

Fish oil and glucosamine - try these but I bet losing weight is probably the first thing that will be suggested it might help it might not.

My relative, who never mange to lose the weight, also found massive dose of vitamin D improved the joint pain but they serverly lacking in a blood test to point it was nearly an emergency admittance to hospital situation.

Still might be worth adding a multi vitamin with Vit D in as well.

Could be arthritis. Osteoarthritis could be caused by excessive weight wearing down the knee joints.

Very young children have arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis can start at any age. I have it and mine started as a teen.

I have knee pain, and am not overweight. I am hypermobile, so it is probably being caused by that, but I am going to the GP to see if any other investigations are needed. I do find fish oil helps dial the pain down a bit.

Knees can ache if the muscles supportin are not strong enough. Swimming will help. Losing weight will make life easier for you. But definitely see gp

I don't think it is just weight OP.

I am the same height and dress size but quite a bit older and have never suffered with my knees like that. Yes, not brilliant getting up and down to the floor but nothing like that.

But dress size means nothing, as people of all different weights can wear the same size, depending on the style/shop.

Also, people carry weight differently.

I am the same height and dress size but quite a bit older and have never suffered with my knees like that.

But you're just one person. Do you really think that just because you haven't nobody else can?

I get back pain that is exacerbated by being overweight. I am one stone over a healthy BMI and know I'm overweight as my back is sore, it eases as I lose weight.

More weight on the joints makes them work harder.

I developed knee problems in my early 30s. I wasn't overweight. If I had been very large, my knees would have been much worse. I don't see how not. Overweight may not cause your knee problems, but being overweight is going to make any knee problem you're prone to become worse.

I broke my scales 😳 I don't think by being too heavy I think I just don't know how to replace the battery tbh (weight watchers old silver body fat percentage ones) so I can't tell you what I weigh atm till I fix them or buy new ones... I used to be a pear shape at size 14

My complete guess is I might be around 17-18 stone now but I could be incredibly kind or unkind either way I have no clue 🤷‍♀️

I had bad knee pain last year, mainly in one knee (can't say if it was a specific injury or not), can confirm that swimming helped a lot. If swimming isn't your thing you could try aquafit. I've also lost about a stone (nearly back to normal weight) which I do think has helped a lot.
When it was hurting bad I put ralgex cream on it and double thickness tubigrip which helped to support it when I walked on it.

Are you hypermobile op?

I was in a lot of pain at the start of the year, I was just over fifteen stone.

I had all the tests, I also have a lymph node issue. But it boiled down to me being too fat and inactive.

I've lost nearly three stone, I'm a proper (not vanity sizing) size 16 and I do ten thousand steps a day. I'm mindful of being active when I can be.

I'm relatively pain free and feel a lot better

All of my heavier friends, are having joint issues and are just in denial about it being anything to do with weight.

Being that bit older makes a difference, if you don't lose it, you'll feel a lot older than you are, in a few years.

You're carrying the equivalent of a small child everywhere you go. I'm aware of this now because I've lost what my Granddaughter weighs and I wouldn't volunteer to carry her around all day.

OP I would suggest you get weighed in Boots or Tesco, then you know where you are. I've been there myself, and it really is best to face up to it and get accurately weighed. Then you can start to tackle any potential health problems, (and painful knees won't be the end of it).
Just saying this in a friendly way, no judgement

You need x-rays done of your knees.

I don't have cartilage between my knee bones. I was born with a problem with my ankles, knees compensated and cartilage wore away faster than normal for my age. I have injections done in them every 4 years and it's wonderful...once complete.

I said I don't think it is just her weight NerrSnerr and then went on to say I had ailments that were made worse by weight. I think she would be wise to see a GP/other health professional rather than just brushing it off as only her weight. My husband has a very bad knee (he will need an operation at some point) - getting aspirated and then taking medication has helped a great deal, and he could do with losing a couple of stone too. It isn't just his weight though. OP seems to be in a lot of pain, like my husband was.

Op I used to run a lot, and arthritis runs in my family, so in my 50's I eneded up having to have various knee surgeries and stop going to the gym.
As my weight increased so did the pain in my knees so had to make huge efforts to keep my weight down.
I have had both knees replaced, (it has been sucessful) but the surgeon told me that such ops are not so sucessful if the patient is very overweight, as healing does not go so well.
whatever your knee problem is, it will improve with weight loss, I'm sure if you diet and lose a couple of stone you will experience far less pain, it may go altogether.
I hate to say it but while you are overweight the GP will only treat your pain with painkillers.

you will not be eligible for it due to your obesity. bollocks, in the UK we don't refuse people surgery due to weight, a Gp may encourage weight loss but they certainly do knee replacements on obese patients, I have had 2 ! and 2 hips
Op it could be osteoarthritis, that is how my problems began, and being overweight won't help. You will be unlikely to get a knee replacement (if needed) because of your age, they don't like to do them until you are in 50's and older as they have a 10 year max shelf life and second surgeries are not always successful. the best thing you can do is take glucosamine and take exercise and lose some weight, that should ease the symptoms as others have said. good luck, knees are painful!

I would lose weight too see if it helps 17/18 stone is quite heavy especially for 5 ft 6. I have knee issues but it's due to another disability making my knees compensate for other things. I would still see your gp but don't be surprised if they tell you to lose weight as even orthopaedic surgeons first advice has always been to try losing some weight for me.

I’m 5’6 and 11 stone. My knees were frequently sore, I lost a stone, and now they’re much better.

Is your knee pain all the time? Since puberty I have had knee pain in the week before my period is due. Maybe it’s hormonal?

I was a size 18/20 and had knee pain just like you describe. I was diagnosed with hypermobility which caused flat feet and overpronation, and got orthotics from the hospital to wear in my shoes which helped, but I still had pain if I walked too much.

I lost weight over the past year and I'm now a 12 (a 14 in Primark ) and the pain has disappeared, it's brilliant.

FWIW, I think you probably are being unkind to yourself - I'm 5'6", when I was size 18/20 I was 13 stone.

Even without the knees I need to lose weight but that's an ongoing battle that I sometimes win and sometimes lose with a possible eating disorder I haven't been entirely straight with my GP about and PCOS which obviously doesn't help

I'm not in denial that losing weight is necessary though... in my case irrespective of the knees issue