Does Weight Loss Improve Incontinence in Moderately Obese Women?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of weight reduction on urinary incontinence in moderately obese women. This prospective cohort study enrolled moderately obese women experiencing four or more incontinence episodes per week. BMI and a 7-day urinary diary were collected at baseline and on the completion of weight reduction. The study included 10 women with a mean (+/-SD) baseline BMI of 38.3 (+/-10.1) kg/m2 and 13 (+/-10) incontinent episodes per week. Participants had a mean BMI reduction of 5.3 (+/-6.2) kg/ m2 (P < 0.03). Among women achieving a weight loss of > or = 5%, 6/6 had > or = 50% reduction in incontinence frequency compared to 1 in 4 women with < 5% weight loss (P < 0.03). Incontinence episodes decreased to 8 (+/-10) per week following weight reduction (P < 0.07). The study demonstrated an association between weight reduction and improved urinary incontinence. Weight reduction should be considered for moderately obese women as part of non-surgical therapy for incontinence.

Urologic Complications of Diabetes

“…Metformin had no effect on incontinence (14). Weight loss, as has been shown in other studies among women without IGT (15), was the most likely mechanism for the effect of the lifestyle intervention on stress incontinence. Differential diabetes incidence among the treatment groups appeared to play almost no mediating role.…”

Body weight through adult life and risk of urinary incontinence in middle-aged women: results from a British prospective cohort

“…Numerous studies on BMI and urinary incontinence have relied on retrospective self-reported weights and heights, which may be subject to recall bias, and obtained concomitant to, or only a few years prior, to the information on urinary incontinence. 14,16,[18][19][20][21] In contrast, since the NSHD is a prospective study with BMI obtained throughout the life course, it permits a detailed investigation of relationship between BMI in early adult life and BMI transition categories with urinary incontinence in midlife. Although height and weight were self-reported at 20 and 26 years, we would have expected even stronger associations with severe incontinence had measured data been used.…”

“…Most of these studies were in overweight or obese women [19][20][21][22] and have found that weight loss resulted in significant improvement in continence. There was a suggestion of an increase in the odds of urinary incontinence in the women who have lost weight compared with those who have maintained a BMI below 25 kg/m 2 .…”

“…11 Studies that have identified a relationship between higher body weight in midlife and incontinence have been either cross-sectional [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] or short-term studies. [19][20][21][22] Obesity, particularly in the abdominal area, may cause incontinence through increased intra-abdominal pressure. 23,24 Given rising childhood and adolescent obesity, 25 and as high body mass index (BMI) is likely to persist over the life course, important questions remain regarding the influence of weight trajectories, in terms of the duration or timing of overweight/obese status, on urinary incontinence.…”

Incontinência urinária de esforço em mulheres pertencentes ao Programa de Saúde da Família de Dourados (MS)

“…18 Subak et al observed that loss of 5% to 10% of body weight leads to a reduction in urinary incontinence. 19 Burgio et al published the results of a prospective study that followed up 101 women with morbid obesity who underwent laparoscopic gastric reduction, with a 44% reduction in the prevalence of urinary incontinence. 20 A study that included 182 Jordanian women between 50 and 65 years showed that body mass index (BMI) had no significant correlation with SUI.…”