Being overweight is generally not considered good for your health. Carrying around extra pounds has been linked with metabolic syndromes and even joint pain. And the latest research suggests that women who are overweight are more likely to experience bladder leaks.
The study, carried out by Australian researchers, suggests that overweight women are twice as likely to suffer from bladder leaks than women who are not obese. Obese women were also 35 percent more likely to experience incontinence than women with a healthy weight.
Advertisement
Bladder leaks themselves do not affect health, but they can have a great toll on your quality of life, causing embarrassment, odor, and discomfort.
To conduct their study, the researchers reviewed medical literature regarding incontinence and weight and looked closely at 14 studies that involved 47,293 women from eight countries. The average age of the women was 55.
Eight of the studies were included in a larger analysis and the data were combined to form a stronger analysis.
The researchers also looked to determine if there was a difference between urge and stress incontinence with respect to weight and found there was none.
Advertisement
Dr. Stephanie Kielb explained, “[Urge incontinence occurs when] the bladder squeezes and pushes urine out when you’re not asking it to. Stress incontinence occurs when there is increased pressure on the abdomen and you leak urine after sneezing or coughing.”
The research highlights that being overweight or obese is a risk factor for bladder leaks. Bladder leaks are not just a condition that affects older women but can affect women of all ages if they carry around extra weight. The researchers suggest that losing weight could be beneficial in reducing urge and leaks.
Also read:
- Prevent bladder infection: Natural ways and lifestyle tips to boost bladder health
- Causes of irritable bladder: Symptoms, treatment, and home remedies
- Overactive bladder diet: Foods and drinks to manage bladder health
- Yoga poses to prevent bladder leaks
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
