Weight management

Weight, health and musculoskeletal conditions

Weight can affect health in several ways. Having a higher body weight can increase the risk of some health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. It can also be associated with joint and back pain, tiredness, breathlessness and difficulty moving around.

If you live with an MSK condition, being physically active can be helpful even if your weight does not change. Regular movement can help maintain muscle strength, joint movement and fitness, as well as supporting your overall health and wellbeing.

Making healthy changes

Small, realistic changes can make a difference. You do not need to make lots of changes at once.

A healthy lifestyle can include:

• eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables
• reducing foods and drinks that are high in fat or sugar
• being physically active in ways that are suitable for you
• gradually increasing the amount of activity you do, if you are able
• setting realistic goals and making changes that you can maintain over time.

If pain or another health condition makes physical activity difficult, there are still ways to move that may work for you. An MSK physiotherapist can help you understand how to safely increase your activity and manage pain.

For more information, read our Physical activity information.

Further information about weight management

Read the NHS information about healthy ways to lose weight: NHS healthy ways to lose weight