According to the ‘World Health Organization’ (WHO), obesity and fat can cause many diseases. Body mass index (BMI) is used to measure overweight or obesity and can cause many diseases due to the fat accumulated around the waist. BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2 is considered overweight and ≥30 kg/m2 is considered obesity. Obesity measured by waist circumference, especially abdominal obesity, is increasing in our country.
If you are obese, you may have kidney disease
According to the ‘National Family Health Survey’ (NFHS), 40% women and 12% men suffer from abdominal obesity. This incidence is very high in the elderly and urban population. Android or apple-shaped abdominal obesity (accumulation of fat in the upper body such as the visceral or abdominal region) contributes to metabolic disease and poor health.
According to ‘Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes’ (KDIGO), chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or the presence of markers of kidney damage (urinary abnormalities, structural abnormalities) for at least three months. The prevalence of kidney disease in our country varies from 3 to 10% based on various studies, which underlines the importance of developing a national registry. The incidence of kidney disease is also increasing and >100,000 new patients require renal replacement therapy (dialysis/renal transplantation) each year.
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How does obesity affect the body
Obesity with increased visceral fat affects all organs of our body. Resulting in diabetes, high BP, coronary vascular disease, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea and many other diseases. It not only has an impact on physical health but also on the psychosocial functioning of individuals. Which reduces their productivity, increases disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and direct health care expenditure.
Risk factors
Body fat itself is considered a dynamic endocrine organ. It produces various hormones such as leptin and adiponectin and their actions change in obesity, resulting in increased inflammation in our body. Increases insulin resistance, leading to high blood pressure and diabetes, which directly impacts the kidneys, causing kidney damage. Increased central fat is responsible for metabolic syndrome and damages target organs of every organ.
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Obesity affects the kidneys
Obesity directly affecting the kidneys is called obesity-related glomerulopathy. It is caused by increased workload on the kidneys resulting in glomerulomegaly (increased size of the glomerulus) and increased protein excretion in the urine. Several studies have shown obesity to be an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease. It accelerates the progression of pre-existing CKD, promotes kidney stone formation, increases the risk of end-stage kidney disease in kidney donors and also affects the kidneys in the post-renal transplantation phase. Obesity is associated with improved outcomes only in the dialysis population, a phenomenon known as reverse epidemiology.
Reversal of obesity-associated established kidney disease is only partial, so devising ways to identify and prevent it is paramount. Lifestyle modifications such as limiting calorie intake and increasing physical activity have been shown to be helpful in reducing weight which has been shown to prevent progression of established kidney disease. Some newer drugs such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs and bariatric surgery in people with obesity have shown promise in improving kidney and general outcomes. Despite the availability of newer modalities to improve outcomes in obesity, the age-old belief that prevention is better than cure remains the best.
Disclaimer: Some of the information given in the news is based on media reports. You must consult the concerned specialist before implementing any suggestion.
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