Beyond BMI: Removing harmful barriers to joint replacement surgery (March 2026)

Summary

This briefing from Arthritis UK finds that almost a fifth (19%) of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England are rationing joint replacement surgery by disadvantaging patients with a higher body mass index (BMI). A further 54.7% have policies that restrict or alter access to surgery in some other way for those with overweight or obesity. Not only are these policies unfair, but they also contradict National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and government policy. Arthritis UK is calling for all ICBs to stop using these policies and stop rationing surgery based on a person’s BMI.