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Obesity and Incontinence
Losing Unwanted Weight May Help You Stay Dry
By Kelly Burgess
According to Dr. Rudy, incontinence due to obesity is only a factor when a person is overweight by 100 pounds or more, not in someone who is only 10 to 30 pounds overweight.
Age also factors into the likelihood of incontinence. A 27-year-old woman who is obese may have a healthy enough sphincter that the excess weight doesn't affect her continence. On the other hand, a 67-year-old woman may already have a weakened sphincter due to the natural aging process. In this case, obesity can increase the likeliness of incontinence.
While obesity often isn't the sole cause of incontinence, it can make a mild incontinence problem worse. But there is hope: Even losing a small amount of weight can improve a person's bladder condition.
"In cases where obesity is an obvious contributing factor in incontinence, losing just 10 percent of body weight can make a big difference," says Dr. Andre Kulisz, a retired homeopath with an extensive background in non-invasive incontinence treatment. "This may not get rid of it all together, but the problem won't be as bad."
Exercising is always a good way to lose unwanted pounds. It has other health benefits, including increasing muscle mass and improving overall health and fitness. Dr. Kulisz also recommends Kegels (pelvic floor exercises) to improve incontinence.