Not long ago I realized I needed to change a bad behavior that has stuck with me most of my life. I've always known about it, read the research, and yet still had a hard time changing. My behavioral change dilemma? Breakfast. I have a hard time eating it. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE breakfast food. I just love a really unhealthy breakfast - biscuits, bacon, gravy, hash browns, etc.

Obesity is a consistent topic in America both with children and adults and we've all heard the statistics. Between 16 to 33 percent of children and adolescents and over 35 percent of adults are obese. It's clear to see why this is viewed as such an epidemic since adult obesity was less than 12% in 1990 - a 200% increase in the last 20 years.

A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of American Orthopaedic Surgeons  highlights yet another benefit of weight loss, this time for sufferers of osteoarthritis (OA). In particular, researchers cited their belief that half of all knee osteoarthritis cases are directly tied to obesity, resulting from the added wear and tear of excess weight on the affected joints.

The good news is that the study also showed that weight loss not only prevents the onset of OA, but may also be a highly effective option for treating existing conditions. Researchers even went as far as to estimate that weight loss could prevent over 111,000 knee surgeries each year. 

Our advice: Starting that weight loss plan is never easy, so don't expect to be perfect. Just focus on improving those simple daily habits, one at a time.

__