Did you know that only 10% of people who have kidney disease know that they suffer from it? Obesity is one of the leading and potent risk factors for development of kidney disease, besides being a factor for diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
In an interaction with OnlyMyHealth editorial team, Dr Puneet, Expert, Founder and Director, Karma Ayurveda, shares how obesity can affect and damage our kidneys in the long run.
A recent report states that nearly one in 16 women and one in 25 men is obese in India. The report also indicates that obesity is more prevalent among women than men.
In some countries, obesity is already present in more than one-third of the adult population. It contributes significantly to overall poor health and high annual medical costs. As per an estimate, by 2025, obesity will affect 18% of men and 21% of women worldwide.
Relationship Between Kidney Disease And Obesity
The direct association between kidney ailment and obesity has been a cause of concern for a long time. Several studies published in the National Institutes Of Health in the US have also pointed out that kidney disease is more likely to develop in obese people including in those with diabetes and hypertension. When compared to those with normal weight, obese people are twice as likely to develop kidney disease.
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Effect Of Obesity On Kidneys
Being overweight increases the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, which are the two main causes of kidney disease.
Extra body weight forces the kidney to work harder and filter wastes above the normal level. This extra work for the vital organs increases the risk of kidney disease.
How to know that you are obese?
Obesity is defined by a BMI (Body Mass Index) of over 30, both in males and females. A waist circumference of over 40 inches in males and over 35 inches in females can also be considered obese.
BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. For adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 25 is considered by the WHO to be normal weight. BMI greater than or equal to 25 is considered overweight and a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is considered obese.
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How Preventing obesity is preventing kidney disease
If you are overweight, losing as little as 5% of your body weight may lower your risk for several diseases. Exercising daily and maintaining an optimum weight can dramatically help you in improving your kidney health. It is important to cut down on salt consumption as well. Ready-to-eat and packed food items are usually loaded with salt. High salt has a severe negative impact on kidney functions and increases blood pressure, especially in the obese and elderly.
Smoking and alcohol consumption, lack of sound adequate sleep, and taking a lot of over the counter (OTC) painkillers may also affect your kidneys negatively. It is important to avoid an unhealthy lifestyle.
Natural or Ayurvedic Treatment For kidney Diseases Or Failure
Thousands of people suffer from CKD and gradual kidney failure in India, every year. Although dialysis and transplant are common solutions that kidney patients take in their later stage, they have many side-effects. For instance, there are chances of kidneys getting rejected by a patient’s body in a transplant or developing kidney infections during dialysis.
