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Cases of osteoarthritis look set to double to over 17 million by 2030, according to experts.
A report by the charity Arthritis Care says the predicted rise is down to the UK's ageing population and growing obesity problem.
Experts estimate that by 2030 over half of the UK population will be aged 50 or older and nearly the same proportion will be obese.
The charity is urging government to plan ahead for this "tsunami of pain".
Its report - OANation 2012 - says 8.5 million people in the UK have osteoarthritis and 71% of them - 6m - are in constant pain.
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis affects the joints, causing pain and stiffness and often reduced mobility. It usually develops in people aged over 50, but some are younger. The exact cause is not known, but anything that puts stress and strain on the joints - including obesity - can play a part.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17995938
A report by the charity Arthritis Care says the predicted rise is down to the UK's ageing population and growing obesity problem.
Experts estimate that by 2030 over half of the UK population will be aged 50 or older and nearly the same proportion will be obese.
The charity is urging government to plan ahead for this "tsunami of pain".
Its report - OANation 2012 - says 8.5 million people in the UK have osteoarthritis and 71% of them - 6m - are in constant pain.
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis affects the joints, causing pain and stiffness and often reduced mobility. It usually develops in people aged over 50, but some are younger. The exact cause is not known, but anything that puts stress and strain on the joints - including obesity - can play a part.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17995938