Can Being Overweight Cause Urinary Incontinence

How Extra Weight And Diet Can Affect Bladder Control

What are the causes of Urinary Incontinence? | Dr. Gokulakrishnan P J

While scientists and researchers are still working out exactly to what extent being overweight and obese negatively affects health , the general consensus among medical professionals is that being overweight or obese contributes to a range of health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and joint problems such as arthritis.5,6

Being overweight or obese can also reduce the quality of life in a number of waysby limiting a persons mobility, making things like air travel difficult and diminishing self-esteem.7

Carrying extra weight can also put pressure on the bladder causing urinary incontinence or make it worse8,9, which is a condition that one in three women will suffer with at some point in her life.

Diet can also affect bladder control. Well explore in more detail how weight and nutrition can contribute to urinary incontinence, and well look at ways to improve symptoms.

Common Causes Of Urinary Incontinence In Men:

The following are common causes of urinary incontinence:

Prostate problems. Prostate problems, especially as men age, can result in problems with urinary control. If the prostate is enlarged, it may affect the flow of urine and cause a weak stream, frequent urination, and leaking. When the prostate is removed for cancer treatment, it is not uncommon to have stress incontinence, which is when physical movement such as coughing or sneezing triggers leakage.

Conditions that cause nerve damage. Because muscles and nerves must work together to control the bladder, any condition that damages the nerves can create urinary problems. Conditions may include Parkinsons disease, stroke, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, herniated discs, spinal cord injuries, and dementia.

What and how much you drink. Certain types of beverages can stress the urinary system. Limiting the amount of alcohol and caffeine, both of which have a diuretic effect, can help bladder control issues. Although staying hydrated is important, it is vital not to overdo it with fluid intake as this can exacerbate bladder control issues.

Weight status. Being overweight can exacerbate urinary incontinence.

Optimising Weight Loss Advice In Obese Women With Urinary Incontinence: A Review By Hannah Montague

Background

The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence guidance specifies that women with a body mass index of over 30, combined with urinary incontinence or overactive bladder, should be advised to lose weight . A BMI over 30 classifies the individual as obese. Obesity is linked with a heightened risk of incontinence-related co-morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis associated with poor mobility .

In addition to co-morbidities which may increase bladder dysfunction, urinary bladder pressure is greater in obese subjects when compared with non-obese . The increased bladder pressure associated with obesity has been linked with the higher incidence of exertion-related incontinence in an obese population, also known as stress urinary incontinence .

A database search was performed to harvest studies which had explored the relationship between weight loss and urinary incontinence. Furthermore, these studies could show the success rate of different interventions. Eight suitable studies were included for review.

To what extent was weight loss associated with symptom improvement?

A comparison of the weight loss percentage and the symptom improvement percentage in the trials is shown in Figure 1. Control branches were omitted where no significant weight loss was achieved.

Which intervention produced optimal weight loss?

Implications for practice

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How To Identify If Your Client Is Obese

1. BMI calculation. Body fat is calculated on an individual’s weight in relation to his/her height and age. A person with a BMI of 25 – 29.9 is considered overweight and a BMI > 30 is considered obese4.

2. Waist circumference is also an indicator of obesity, with a measurement over 88 cm for women and over 102 cm for men, indicative of obesity3.

3. A weight over 100 kg is what is termed Bariatric in hospitals and community settings by medical, nursing and allied health staff. This weight alerts staff that they may need to order special bariatric equipment for a patient with this weight

Why Does Obesity Increase The Risk Of Incontinence

Stress Urinary Incontinence is No Laughing Matter ...

To understand how obesity might cause incontinence, youd need to know a little more about how the body holds urine in, and why incontinence happens.

Urine is formed in the kidneys and then collected in the urinary bladder, which is in turn closed by the urethral sphincter a muscular tube that contracts on the bladder neck and holds urine in. The bladder and the sphincter are supported by the pelvic floor muscles, which form a muscular diaphragm allowing the sphincter to function normally. Damage to the bladder muscle, the urethral sphincter, the pelvic floor muscles, or the nerves supplying them can cause urinary incontinence.

It is not fully understood how obesity fits into the picture, but there are some well-supported theories.

Other researches believe that obesity itself is the cause, regardless of the other risk factors. The increased pressure inside the abdomen, occurring due to the large amounts of abdominal fat in obese people, chronically pushes down on the bladder, possibly damaging and weakening the urethral sphincter, pelvic floor muscles, and adjacent nerves, and eventually causing stress incontinence.

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Can Overactive Bladder Be Controlled

Overactive bladder therapy can be challenging to manage. However, many people are very satisfied with the treatment they receive and they often see a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. Your doctor will guide you to the best steps to begin with and give you options for any additional treatments you may need over time.

Can Sertraline Cause Urinary Incontinence

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However, all antidepressants result in urinary retention and, eventually, in overflow incontinence. Most antidepressants are inhibitors of norepinephrine and/or serotonin uptake. One study reported a link between diuretics and/or conditions associated with their use and urinary incontinence in community-dwelling women.

Also Know, can prednisone cause urinary incontinence? Commonly prescribed medications such as prednisone and furosemide typically cause increased thirst. Some dogs develop urinary incontinence .

Also asked, what medications can cause urinary incontinence?

The drugs commonly pinpointed in urinary incontinence include anticholinergics, alpha-adrenergic agonists, alpha-antagonists, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, sedative-hypnotics, ACE inhibitors, and antiparkinsonian medications.

Which antidepressants cause urinary retention?

Medications with anticholinergic properties, such as tricyclic antidepressants, cause urinary retention by decreasing bladder detrusor muscle contraction.

The treatments your doctor recommends may include:

Pelvic floor muscle exercises. Called Kegel exercises, these movements strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and urinary sphincter.

Fluid consumption.

Factors that increase your risk of developing urinary incontinence include:

Gender. Women are more likely to have stress incontinence.

Being overweight.

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What Happens When You Have A Bladder Infection

Bladder infections are the most common type of urinary tract infection . Theyre caused by bacteria and lead to problems like pain in your lower belly and having to pee way more often than usual. Your doctor can do some simple tests to find out if you have one, and theyre usually easy to treat.

Male Urinary Incontinence Home Remedies

What is urinary incontinence? Causes, symptoms and treatment explained

There are a number of home remedies and lifestyle adaptations that are known to assist with UI, as well as help to prevent it. They can either be tried on their own, such as for mild cases of UI, or combined with other medical treatments. However, a consultation with a urologist is recommended to evaluate each individual case. With expert medical assistance, these home remedies can be adopted in addition to receiving any other necessary treatments.

Watch Your Diet. Certain foods and drinks can be triggers for a bladder problem in men as well as women. These include notably alcohol and caffeine, as well as fizzy drinks, spicy foods, tomato products, chocolate, and citrus juices. To evaluate what might be a possible personal trigger, its useful to keep a food diary. Note what seems to be a trigger. For accurate analysis, try eliminating one product at a time, and give it about a week to see if symptoms change.

Drink Fluids Moderately. Drink sufficient volumes to remain adequately hydrated, but do not overdo it as excessive fluid intake will contribute to urinary urgency, frequency and control issues.

Lose Weight if You Are Overweight. Excess fat, especially around the belly area, puts extra pressure on the pelvic muscles and bladder. Physical activity is a great way to lose weight and alleviate pressure on the bladder and is also good for general health.

Stop Smoking. If you do smoke, be aware that smoking irritates the bladder and can worsen UI symptoms.

Medications And Supplements That Can Cause Or Worsen Ui

Diuretics, or water pills
Some heart and blood pressure medications
Some cold and allergy medications
Some medications for depression and anxiety
Some medications for diabetes
Some medications for dementia
Muscle relaxants

Talk to your healthcare provider about any medications you are taking that might be causing UI. Never stop any medications without talking to your healthcare provider first.

Obesity And Skin Issues

1. Dry Skin skin can become incredibly dry due to poor circulation, poor hygiene, or lack of moisturizing.

2. Excessive Moisture this can be an issue due to sweating.

3. Weight and Pressure due to their weight they may develop pressure ulcers between skinfolds or on extremities, or pressure from tight spaces on skin a lack of movement, or from acid from urine and faeces due to incontinence.

4. Cellulitis a bacterial skin infection can occur due to poor hygiene.

5. Other related Health Issues can cause skin problems:

diabetes if poorly controlled can cause skin breakdowns or diabetic foot ulcers
less blood flow in areas with heavy deposits of fat
venous insufficiency/poor circulation to limbs
a lack of mobility can put skin at risk
the PH of their skin is usually higher9

TENA is the first continence products to be endorsed by the Skin Health Alliance.

How Does Being Overweight Affect The Urinary System

When a person becomes overweight, fat tissue surrounds the bladder in both men and women. This fat tissue can push on the bladder, reducing its capacity. In turn, this makes it harder for a person to hold their urine until they get to a bathroom.

The more obese a person is the greater pressure placed on the bladder by the surrounding fat tissue. This loss of control over urination becomes increasingly worse as a person becomes more obese.

Secondly, it is important to define incontinence. According to the National Association for Continence , incontinence is defined as involuntary leakage of urine occurring when a person has the urge to urinate.

There are three different types of incontinence: overactive bladder, stress urinary incontinence , and mixed urinary incontinence .

Overactive bladder is described as having an urgent or frequent need to urinate. This type of incontinence can be caused by either bladder spasms or an overactive bladder muscle.

Stress urinary incontinence is leakage that happens when a person is exposed to something that increases pressure within the abdominal cavity, such as coughing, sneezing, or lifting something.

Obesity poses a serious threat to the health of both men and women, especially when it comes to urinary incontinence.

Obesity increases the risk of developing an overactive bladder, which is caused by an increased amount of pressure placed on the bladder by surrounding fats.

Sudden Onset Urinary Incontinence: Causes And Treatment

Lets face it, urinary incontinence is embarrassing to talk about. Knowing that every time you laugh, cough, sneeze, or exercise could cause you to start leaking urine before you reach the bathroom is something no one wants to face.

First off, know that you are not alone. Sudden onset urinary incontinence affects nearly one-third of the entire US population.

This common condition can be treated, but you need to take those first, hard steps and speak to your doctor. The sooner you do, the better chance you have in a successful treatment.

The problem is, how do you know what caused this sudden incontinence? Knowing what caused it will help both you and your doctor find the appropriate treatment for it.

Thankfully, we have detailed information on how you can discover what caused your sudden onset urinary incontinence, and information on what types of treatment are available.

Keep on reading to learn more.

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Obesity And Urinary Incontinence

1. In a study of over 3,000 women, the prevalence of Urinary Incontinence was 17%, stress UI 15%, urge UI 9%, and mixed UI 7%. Irrespective of other risk indicators, BMI was positively associated with UI prevalence, particularly stress incontinence.7

2. Another study reviewed 368 incontinent women and found 63% had stress UI, 27% had detrusor instability. Obesity was significantly more common in women with genuine stress incontinence and detrusor instability than in the normal population8

What You Can Do To Prevent Urinary Incontinence

There are lots of factors besides weight that contribute to urinary incontinence. If you have any concerns regarding your pelvic health, it is always best to get a thorough evaluation from your doctors and a pelvic floor therapist .

Here is a short list of things that can contribute to urinary incontinence:

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What Causes Bladder Leaks

There are two main types of urinary incontinence:

Stress incontinence

If you have this type, activities that raise the pressure inside your abdomen cause urine to leak through the ring of muscle in your bladder that normally holds it in. Coughing, sneezing, jumping and lifting heavy objects could lead to a leak.

Going through childbirth, smoking or being overweight can raise the risk of stress incontinence for women, Wright says. Stress incontinence in men is rare, and when it arises, its often due to prostate cancer treatment, such as radiation or surgery.

Urge incontinence

With this type, your brain, spinal cord and bladder dont work together properly to allow you to hold and release urine at the right time. Your bladder may suddenly empty itself without warning. Or you may feel like you need to urinate frequently, a problem called overactive bladder.

Some diseases that affect the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis or stroke, can cause this kind of incontinence, says Wright. In men, an enlarged prostate may be the culprit. But in many cases, doctors dont know what causes urge incontinence.

It is possible to have both types of incontinence at the same time.

TRY IT: Keep Records

Your doctor will want to know as much as possible about your bladder leakswhen they occur, how much urine comes out, and what youre doing when leaks happen. Consider keeping a diary of when you urinate and when you have leaks, recommends Wright.

What Causes Overactive Bladder

Urinary Incontinence

An overactive bladder can be caused by several things, or even a combination of causes. Some possible causes can include:

Weak pelvic muscles: Pregnancy and childbirth can cause your pelvic muscles to stretch and weaken. This can cause the bladder to sag out of its normal position. All of these factors can cause leakage.
Nerve damage: Sometimes signals are sent to the brain and bladder to empty at the wrong time. Trauma and diseases can cause this to happen. These can include:
Pelvic or back surgery.
Stroke.

Medications, alcohol and caffeine: All of these products can dull the nerves, which affects the signal to the brain. This could result in bladder overflow. Diuretics and caffeine can cause your bladder to fill rapidly and possibly leak.

Infection: An infection, like a urinary tract infection , can irritate the bladder nerves and cause the bladder to squeeze without warning.

Excess weight: Being overweight places extra pressure on your bladder. This can lead to urge incontinence.

Estrogen deficiency after menopause: This hormonal change could contribute to a loss of urine due to urgency. Ask your doctor if vaginal-only estrogen therapy is right for you. This is different from systemic hormone therapy, which is absorbed throughout the body.

Often, there may be no specific explanation for why this is occurring.

Sneak In Extra Movements Throughout Your Day

Park your car a little bit further from the entry of your office/grocery store, etc. Do short bouts of weight-bearing exercises like lunges, squats, or pushups when youre waiting for dinner to warm up. Take a 5-minute break every hour at work to just walk around the office. Every movement counts your body doesnt know if youre in the gym or not and it doesnt always have to be during a designated workout time. Youll still be burning extra calories.

What You Can Do

Being overweight is only one risk factor for urinary incontinence. The condition can be caused by a number of medical issues, including:

Urinary tract and bladder infections
Shingles
Taking certain medications
Pregnancy and childbirth
Surgery

Your symptoms may be caused by a number of different reasons. It is important that you discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider rather than attributing your symptoms solely to being overweight so any underlying problems are identified and/or eliminated.

Your healthcare provider may suggest you keep a bladder diary over the course of several days so you can track your symptoms. Some typical questions you may be asked to answer include:

What happened immediately before the episode occurred? For example, did you cough or sneeze?
Did you drink any beverages prior to the episode?
Were you sedentary or active prior to the episode? If active, what exactly were you doing?

If there are no other underlying causes, losing weight may decrease your UI episodes. Overall health benefits can begin being seen in patients who lose just 5% of their current body weight, so you may see improvement by just losing a small amount of weight. Controlling your weight in the long-term may even completely eliminate your UI symptoms. The more weight you lose from your midsection, the less pressure is on your bladder.

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