Obesity and Kidney Disease

Obesity and Kidney Disease

Kidney diseases are increasing rapidly in India and all over the world. On Thursday, 9 March 2017, World Kidney Day wascelebrated to create awareness about kidney diseases.

The purpose of the World Kidney Day is to spread awareness about kidney diseases. By better awareness kidney disease can be prevented and early diagnosis, proper care and treatment of kidney diseases can be helpful to reduce rate of deterioration of kidney function.

"Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Kidneys" or “Reduce Obesity and Save Kidneys” is the slogan of World Kidney Day 2017.

Obesity and Kidney

Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. The risk of obesity is increasing because of lack of exercise, unhealthy food and less physical activities. In 2014, worldwide over 600 million adults were obese. Shocking fact is that, the number of obese people may increase by 40% in coming decade.

Obesity is also a leading cause of kidney failures such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Kidneys have to do extra work to meet the needs of the body in person with the additional weight. Volume of blood filtered increases in obese person which can harm kidney on long term and can cause even kidney failure. Due to the obesity risk of diabetes and high blood pressure increases significantly and diabetes and high blood pressure is responsible for 70% of patients with CKD. So by controlling obesity we can reduce incidence of diabetes and hypertension; and as a result even incidence of chronic kidney diseases reduces.

The purpose of “Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Kidneys” slogan of World Kidney Day-2017 is to raise awareness and promotes education about kidney disease due to obesity.

The relation between Kidney Disease and Obesity

Kidney disease is more likely to develop in obese people including in those with diabetes and hypertension.

By 2025, obesity will affect 18% of men and over 21% of women worldwide, and that severe obesity will affect 6% of all men and 9% of all women around the world.

A growing body of evidence indicates that obesity is also a potent risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). People who are overweight or obese have 2 to 7 more chances of developing CKD compared to those of normal weight.

Obesity may lead to diabetes and hypertension, and also by causing direct kidney damage by increasing the workload of the kidneys and other mechanisms. Reducing obesity may reverse or slow CKD progression.

Acute Kidney Failure is a serious condition that develops suddenly, often lasts a short time (few days or 2-3 weeks) and may disappear completely once the underlying cause has been treated. Acute Kidney Failure occurs more frequently in obese people.

Obesity, in addition to kidney disease, also increases the risks of problems like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pains, increased cholesterol, sleep atonia etc.

How to take care of your kidneys?

Year 2017 World Kidney Day promotes education about the harmful consequences of obesity and its association with kidney disease, advocating healthy lifestyle and health policy measures that make preventive behaviors an affordable option.

The good news is that, proper nutrition and exercise is helpful in preventing obesity.

With proper care and treatment we can reduce the risk of kidney failures.Golden rules to keep kidneys healthy are:

• Exercise on a regular basis, be fit and active.
• Eat healthy and maintain appropriate weight.
• Increase the use of green vegetables and fruits in the diet.
• Keep regular and meticulous control of your blood sugar level.
• Monitor regularly and keep blood pressure under control.