Maintaining optimal health involves a holistic approach that goes beyond the numbers on a scale. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on the importance of fitness over mere weight loss, especially when it comes to reducing the risk of kidney diseases.
Talking to the team of OnlyMyHealth, Dr Sashi Kiran A, Consultant Nephrologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad said, “Studies have found that the risk of chronic kidney disease was reduced when physical fitness increased and body weight was maintained. However, reducing weight did not lessen the danger.”
How Fitness Reduces Kidney Disease Risk
Weight loss is often associated with health improvements, but when it comes to kidney disease risk, fitness plays a more crucial role. This has been corroborated by a recent study led by Drexel University.
Published in the research journal ‘Obesity,’ the study found that although obesity causes Type 2 diabetes, a major risk factor of chronic kidney disease, for individuals living with obesity who did not have diabetes or a minor kidney disorder, weight loss did not seem necessarily protective.
Commenting on these findings, Dr Kiran said, “Hormonal imbalances brought on by excess body fat can cause blood pressure to rise, the body to retain more fluid, and the development of insulin resistance. All of that puts more strain on your kidneys to filter blood, which damages and scars them. It's possible that avoiding weight gain is more crucial than losing weight.”
The study found that regular physical activity enhances cardiovascular health, improves blood circulation, and helps regulate blood pressure – all vital factors in kidney function. Maintaining a healthy weight is a byproduct of overall fitness, but it is not the sole determinant of kidney health, the researchers concluded.
Also Read: Burning Crops Like Sugarcane And Rice Husk May Cause Fatal Kidney Disease, Reveals Study
Fitness Tips for Managing Kidney Diseases
Suggesting some tips for people to maintain their fitness levels. And hence alleviate the risk of kidney diseases, Dr Kiran listed:
- Select an activity that requires you to move your large muscle groups continuously, such as walking, swimming, cycling (indoors or outdoors), skiing, aerobic dance, or any other exercise.
- Include some low-level strengthening workouts in your programme as well. Avoid heavy lifting and build your programme with low weights and lots of repetitions.
- Aim for 30 minutes each time. It is best to increase to this level gradually, and then further increase your work out time.
- Spend at least three days a week working out. These ought to be alternate days. The bare minimum of three days a week is needed to reap the benefits of your fitness regimen.
- Maintain a pace during your workout so that you are not breathing heavily. After working out for an hour, you ought to feel totally normal.
- Muscle discomfort shouldn't prevent you from working out the next day.
- Your intensity during working out should be at a comfortable level.
- Each session should begin slowly to let the body warm up, then gradually increase the speed until the very end.
- The ideal times to work out tend to be in the morning or the evening.
- Consult your physician before beginning any fitness regimen.
Hence it is apparent that prioritising fitness over weight loss is a better strategy to mitigate the risk of kidney diseases. By understanding this intricate connection you can take proactive steps towards a healthier lifestyle, especially by following these fitness tips provided by Dr Kiran. Remember, always consult with healthcare professionals for personalised advice based on your special condition.
