Losing a little weight can really help your knees — for every pound you lose, your knees feel about four pounds less pressure when you walk.

If older adults with extra weight and knee arthritis lose 1 kilogram, their knees experience about 4 times less force with each step — which could really add up to less wear and tear over time.

If older adults who are overweight or obese and have knee arthritis lose 1 kilogram of weight, their knees experience less strain when walking — about 1.4% less stress per kilo lost — which might help protect the inner part of the knee.