StandUp2OA – Biweekly 1/20/2023 - Osteoarthritis Action Alliance

StandUp Tip

Making healthy lifestyle changes is tough when you go it alone. Ask your family or friends to support and join you on your journey to a healthier weight.

In This Issue

DEI Efforts of the 140+ Member Organizations of the OAAA
Osteoarthritis in the Media
Webinars
Resources for OA Researchers

Healthy Weight Week

We are in the midst of Healthy Weight Week, celebrated this year from January 15th through the 21st. It is a week dedicated to understanding the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. According to the NIH, many factors can contribute to a person’s weight, including one’s environment, family history and genetics, metabolism (the way your body changes food into energy), and behavior or habits. In terms of osteoarthritis (OA), managing your weight with a healthy diet and physical activity can help you reduce your joint pain. Every 1 pound of weight loss equals 4 pounds of relief on your knees. Losing 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half!

Wondering where to get started? The OA Action Alliance has compiled a variety of resources to help individuals affected by excess weight and joint pain take action steps to improve their joint pain. In addition, our Weight Management task group explored the gap between what individuals with OA want to know about nutrition education and what healthcare professionals believe they need to know. Lastly, Fit & Strong! Plus is the physical activity plus weight loss version of the Fit & Strong! program, a recognized physical activity Arthritis-Appropriate, Evidence-Based Intervention.

Mindfulness practices enhance the connection between our body, our mind and everything else that is around us. Mindful living is the key to understanding our struggles with weight and to empowering us to control our weight.
–Thich Nhat Hanh

DEI Efforts of the 140+ Member Organizations of the OAAA

In each newsletter, we will feature an OAAA member organization’s efforts in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

A workforce that represents the population they serve is better equipped to meet the needs of a diverse community. To address the lack of representation of Hispanic and Latino professionals in the public health workforce, SOPHE is launching the Step-UP Pipelines Program. The Step-UP Pipelines program encourages Hispanic and Latino students to pursue undergraduate degrees in public health and health education.

Osteoarthritis in the Media

The latest in news, policy, & practice on osteoarthritis

Booming Encore: 5 reasons why you should play pickleball (1/19/2023)
Op-Med: When it comes to heart health, don’t overlook lifestyle factors (1/17/2023)
A Healthier Michigan: How strength training can help you age gracefully (1/15/2023)
Time: 9 ways to squeeze in more steps every day (1/12/2023)
Marquette Today: Physical therapy professor receives NIH grant to develop physical activity intervention for people with chronic knee pain (1/9/2023)
Healio: New app aims to help people hit nutrition targets (1/9/2023)
The Joint Action has posted a new podcast on the topic “Tips for behaviour change for diet and exercise with Dr Shannon Mihalko” (1/8/2023)
CreakyJoints: Osteoporosis and arthritis-What you need to know (1/7/2023)
UNC Health Talk: 3 steps to quit dieting for good (1/4/2023)
Nature: The ‘breakthrough’ obesity drugs that have stunned researchers (1/4/2023)
January issue of Tai Chi for Health Institute newsletter has been released (1/1/2023)

Webinars

Resources for OA Researchers

Click the button below to access our regularly updated list of Events and Conferences, Funding Opportunities, Webinars, and Announcements related to Osteoarthritis research. Remember to bookmark this website!

Events, Funding, and More

How Are We Doing?

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Thank you!

Do you have something you would like to share with us? Please email us at oaaction@unc.edu so we can promote it!