A hernia is a condition in which a part of an organ pushes through the opening of the organ wall made up of muscle tissue or membranous material. The most common site for hernias to develop is the abdomen. Hernias may or may not display any outward symptoms. Hernias are usually treated surgically. If the blood supply at the herniated portion is cut off then it becomes a medical emergency. Muscle weakness and straining too hard at an activity can cause hernias. A person born with weak abdominal muscles is more likely to acquire the condition, particularly if he leads a sedentary lifestyle without any form of exercise.

Obesity is strongly associated with osteoarthritis, and in particular a dose dependent relationship has been found to exist between BMI and risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knees. Excessive osteoarthritis of otherwise healthy joints is known to contribute towards osteoarthritis, but obesity is also a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis in non-weight-bearing joints, and current research indicates a more complex relationship exists between osteoarthritis and obesity than can be explained by biomechanical stress alone.