Abstract
Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. This has been partially noted because of the increase of the obesity trend in the United States. In addition it has been noted as a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability among the elderly. Although there have been several advances in this area, there are several areas that can be addressed by nurse clinicians. The effects of obesity, risk factors, and potential complications are discussed in this literature review.