Hip replacement surgery may have many benefits, including relieving pain and restoring range of motion, but weight loss is not one of them.

Research studies on this topic, such as this 2015 study, find that people typically maintain their body mass index (BMI) after a total hip replacement.

Another study from 2014 also concluded that hip replacement surgery did not lower the BMI of the 48 men and 52 women participating in the study.

Many people believe that hip replacement surgery will promote weight loss because the surgery will relieve their pain and allow them to be more active.

However, people often experience a decrease in their activity levels following surgery due to postoperative pain, a lengthy recovery period, and ongoing mobility limitations.

What’s more, exercise alone cannot help you lose weight. You’ll need to make other lifestyle changes, such as:

  • eating a balanced diet
  • getting plenty of sleep
  • reducing or eliminating alcohol (if you drink)

Doctors often encourage people to follow a nutritious diet and lose weight prior to joint replacement surgery. According to the NHS, even a 5% reduction in body weight can help reduce pain and improve joint function.

The more weight you lose, the better your results, before and after surgery. That’s because less weight reduces the stress placed on your hip joints when standing or moving.

Preoperative weight loss may also lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, wound drainage, infection, and fracture.

A 2024 review of studies found that people who significantly reduced their body weight and BMI before hip replacement surgery reported fewer postoperative complications.

You can lose weight safely by following a nutrient-rich diet and adding exercise to your daily routine. If your hips hurt too much for activities like walking or biking, you can try swimming or targeted mobility and strength training for your hips.

You can also talk with your doctor about medications like Ozempic (which belong to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists) in combination with a high protein, low carb diet.

You might also discuss gastric sleeve surgery with your doctor.

Also, including anti-inflammatory foods in your diet might provide some symptom relief.

These include:

  • fish
  • nuts and seeds
  • fruit and vegetables
  • beans
  • whole grains

As with all surgeries, be sure to talk with your doctor about your surgery and ask what you can do to improve your recovery and outcome.