16 March 2016
Weight Loss Can Ease Urinary Incontinence
Losing weight is good for so many health problems, from heart disease to diabetes. Shedding just 10 pounds, for example, can lower your blood pressure. Add another benefit to the list; losing weight eases urinary incontinence in women who are overweight or obese says the Harvard Women’s Health Watch.
Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine which affects both men and women although it is more common in women. There are several types of urinary incontinence but the most common are stress incontinence (when urine leaks out at times when the bladder is under pressure i.e. coughing or laughing) or urge incontinence (when urine leaks as you feel a sudden, intense urge to pass urine).
Obesity has long been associated with urinary leakage in women, but there’s been little research to confirm that losing weight would help reverse the problem or to suggest how much weight loss would be needed. A randomized trial found that moderate weight loss among heavy women who undertook a six-month diet and exercise program cut the frequency of urinary incontinence episodes by nearly half.
The trial included 338 overweight women who leaked urine at least 10 times per week. They were randomly assigned to an intensive program of diet, exercise, and behavioural modification or to a control group that learned about the benefits of weight loss but received no other guidance. After six months, women in the first group had lost an average of 17 pounds and had 47% fewer urinary incontinence episodes; while those in the control group lost an average of 3 pounds and reported 28% fewer episodes.
Harvard Women’s Health Watch acknowledges that their findings may not apply to all women. Nonetheless, the study strongly suggests that weight loss reduces incontinence episodes, possibly by reducing pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor.
It is hoped that the findings may encourage women worried about urinary leakage during exercise to stick with their workouts and to eat a healthy diet, knowing that doing so could improve urinary incontinence down the road.
Incontinence UK offers a range of incontinence products suitable for urinary incontinence both for men and women. Fast, discreet next day delivery available!
Best Wishes
Incontinence UK Team
www.incontinenceuk.co.uk
