The Impact of Obesity and Weight Loss on Urinary and Bowel Incontinence Symptoms in Women.
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: Obesity has become a worldwide problem, being recognized as a “global epidemic” by the WHO in 1997.1 In 1990, among states participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, none had obesity rates ≥ 15%. In contrast, 2009 data demonstrated only one state had obesity rates less than 15%.2 Currently, the combined age-adjusted prevalence estimates for US adults classified as overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25) is 68.0%3 and for women is 64.1%.4 In women 60 years of age and older, 68.6 % (95% CI 64.4–72.7) are overweight or obese. Obesity, one of the leading health issues in US, results in approximately 300,000 deaths per year5, costing the United States about $147 billion6 dollars in medical care costs in 2008.
Obesity is associated with higher rates of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, osteoarthritis, coronary artery disease, and other chronic medical conditions.4 In recent years, studies have identified obesity as an independent risk factor for pelvic floor disorders, including urinary (UI) and fecal incontinence (FI); both of which are complex and under-diagnosed problems with physiologically and socially devastating consequences.7 Additionally, evidence has evolved demonstrating an association between weight loss and lifestyle changes helping to control UI, 7–9 and possibly improving FI symptoms10. The goals of this paper are to present a summary of the current literature describing the effects of obesity and weight loss as it relates to urinary and fecal incontinence in women.
Source: PubMed
Authors: Alicia C Ballard, Holly E Richter
Institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Medicine
Language: English
Subfield: Urology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W107208266