Brief Reports

Self-management strategies in overweight and obese Canadians with arthritis

  1. S. Bernatsky1,†,*,
  2. C. Rusu2,
  3. S. O'Donnell2,
  4. C. Mackay3,
  5. G. Hawker4,
  6. M. Canizares5,
  7. E. Badley6

Article first published online: 25 JAN 2012

DOI: 10.1002/acr.20654

Issue

Arthritis Care & Research

Arthritis Care & Research

Volume 64, Issue 2, pages 280–286, February 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Bernatsky, S., Rusu, C., O'Donnell, S., Mackay, C., Hawker, G., Canizares, M. and Badley, E. (2012), Self-management strategies in overweight and obese Canadians with arthritis. Arthritis Care & Research, 64: 280–286. doi: 10.1002/acr.20654

Author Information

  1. 1

    McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

  2. 2

    Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  3. 3

    Toronto Western Research Institute and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  4. 4

    University of Toronto and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  5. 5

    Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  6. 6

    Toronto Western Research Institute, University of Toronto, and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  1. †

    Dr. Bernatsky is a Canadian Arthritis Network Scholar

*Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 687 Pine Avenue West, V-Building, V2.09, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A1, Canada

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 JAN 2012
  2. Article first published online: 25 JAN 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 3 OCT 2011 08:40AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 23 SEP 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 24 MAY 2011

Funded by

  • Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec
  • McGill University Health Centre Research Institute and Department of Medicine
  • The Arthritis Society
  • F.M. Hill Chair in Academic Women's Medicine

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Abstract

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of overweight and obese Canadians with arthritis and to describe their use of arthritis self-management strategies, as well as explore the factors associated with not engaging in any self-management strategies.

Methods

Respondents to the 2009 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada, a nationally representative sample of 4,565 Canadians age ≥20 years reporting health professional–diagnosed arthritis (including more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions), were asked about the impact of their arthritis and how it was managed. Among the overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) individuals with arthritis (n = 2,869), the use of arthritis self-management strategies (i.e., exercise, weight control/loss, classes, and community-based programs) were analyzed. Log binomial regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with engaging in none versus any (≥1) of the 4 strategies.

Results

More than one-quarter (27.4%) of Canadians with arthritis were obese and an additional 39.9% were overweight. The overweight and obese individuals with arthritis were mostly female (59.5%), age ≥45 years (89.7%), and reported postsecondary education (69.0%). While most reported engagement in at least 1 self-management strategy (84.9%), less than half (45.6%) engaged in both weight control/loss and exercise. Factors independently associated with not engaging in any self-management strategies included lower education, not taking medications for arthritis, and no clinical recommendations from a health professional.

Conclusion

Fewer than half of the overweight and obese Canadians with arthritis engaged in both weight control/loss and exercise. The provision of targeted clinical recommendations (particularly low in individuals that did not engage in any self-management strategies) may help to facilitate participation.

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