Obesity is a precursor to several health conditions including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and a host of other conditions.

It can also cause urinary incontinence, which is the inability to hold urine. With many middle-aged women suffering from incontinence, several studies have shown that obesity or being overweight is directly linked to the condition.

Perhaps surprisingly, an increase in body mass index by a few units can raise the risk of urinary incontinence by several folds. Deposition of fat around the abdomen is one of the most important factors associating obesity with urinary incontinence. Some studies suggest that excess body weight increases abdominal pressure, which in turn increases bladder pressure and mobility of the urethra, causing urinary incontinence.

Weight loss through behavioural and lifestyle measures such as taking high fibre diets, meal replacements and exercising can lead to improvement in urinary incontinence symptoms.

References:

News Medical