When the African-American author and songwriter James Weldon Johnson wrote "Dem Bones" in the 1920s, he launched a much-loved way to learn about anatomy: "The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone/The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone." 

But it turns out when osteoarthritis (OA) develops in any of those connecting joints, it connects you to more than the next section of your anatomy. Around 67% of the 32.5 million U.S. adults with OA contend with another chronic condition, such as high blood pressure, elevated LDL cholesterol, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

That's because OA is commonly caused by inflammation triggered by being overweight or obese.

People with OA have triple the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, especially if they have OA in the knees or hips. Hip and knee OA often results from highly inflammatory, joint- and heart-damaging obesity.

Studies reveal that lung diseases such as COPD and asthma affect between 6% and 19% of people with OA. Again, chronic inflammation is the link.  

Around 52% of people with Type 2 diabetes also have OA, while only 27% of those without diabetes do. Again, the combination of body-wide inflammation, obesity, and inactivity link the conditions.

Actively managing your OA helps prevent these other inflammation-triggered conditions. So, check out the Active Living Every Day Program, the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, or a Walk with Ease Program that the National Recreation and Parks Association runs in 32 states