RESUMO
To find any relation between age, sex and overweight and osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Between Nov. 2000 and Nov. 2002, all the patient attended the teaching hospital in Al Najaf complaining of knee pain were clinically examined. Those who proved clinically to have primary [idipathic] osteoarthritis of the knee joint were included in this study. From these patient a sample of 126 patient were further investigated; The body mass index of each was calculated from their weights and heights. Bilateral weight bearing XR of the knees were taken to see the radiological features of osteoatrthritis in details. Total number of patients was 730, 606 females and 114 males .The ratio of females to males was 4.8:1 .The mean age of the females was 54..7 years and of the males was 60.6 years. For the sample of 126 patients the mean body mass index of the females was 30.5Kg/m[2], and of the males was 27.5 Kg/m[2]. They were 61 obese, 55 overweight and 10 patients with accepted [ideal] weight. Decrease joint space especially on the medial compartment was the most common radiological feature, sub-chondral sclerosis occurred mainly on the medial compartement, and osteophytes occurred mainly on the lateral compartment. Idiopathic OA of the knee occur more in women. Age and Overweight has a direct effect on the development of primary osteoartbnitis of the knee joint