During an assessment, the nurse determines that a patient with knee pain is at risk for osteoarthritis. What did the nurse assess in this patient?

Osteoarthritis is a condition where the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down over time. Excess weight puts extra stress on the joints, particularly weight-bearing joints like the knees. Being overweight by 30 pounds increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the knees because the added weight can accelerate the breakdown of cartilage. Therefore, the nurse identified the patient as at risk for osteoarthritis due to being overweight by 30 pounds.