Could Obesity Be the Cause of Your Kidney Disease?

If you suffer from chronic kidney disease, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 30 million Americans living with chronic kidney disease, which can lead to serious health complications like heart disease and stroke, to name just two. It’s no secret that if you suffer from one chronic illness, you’re more likely to suffer from another. It stands to reason, then, that a lot of the people in this country with chronic kidney disease could be overweight or obese as well.

Understanding Obesity

There are many causes and risk factors associated with obesity. These include: genetics, environmental factors such as lack of physical activity, emotional factors such as stress or depression, sleep deprivation and a high-calorie diet. A high-calorie diet can lead to weight gain over time and obesity can have an impact on one's kidney health because it increases blood pressure which in turn can lead to kidney disease.

The highest risk factor for kidney disease is diabetes. Those with diabetes are twice as likely to develop kidney disease than those without diabetes, according to one study. It has also been found that a third of people with diabetes will suffer some form of renal disease in their lifetime, and many don't even know they have it.

Causes of Obesity

Obesity is caused by too many calories and not enough exercise. The excess weight can strain your heart, joints, and other organs, like your kidneys. If you are obese and have kidney disease, losing just 10% of your weight can help improve kidney function.

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on both sides of your spine. They make urine, remove waste from your blood, balance minerals and water in your body, and help control blood pressure. Overweight people are more likely to have kidney problems because extra weight strains these organs and increases harmful substances in your blood. High blood pressure is also linked to obesity and can damage healthy kidney cells.

Effects of Obesity

Obesity can cause a number of health problems, including kidney disease. Obese people are at increased risk for developing chronic kidney disease, and it's estimated that about one-third of people with end-stage kidney disease are overweight or obese. There are two main ways obesity can lead to chronic kidney disease: inflammation and microalbuminuria. Obesity causes inflammation in the kidneys, which damages them over time.

Studies have shown that people with microalbuminuria (small amounts of albumin in their urine) are more likely to develop kidney disease, even if they don't have diabetes or high blood pressure. This suggests that obesity causes an increase in protein in your urine, which is a sign of kidney damage.

Obesity and Kidney Disease

Obesity is one of the major causes of kidney disease and can lead to diabetes, hypertension, and other health problems. If you are overweight or obese, it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly and work with your doctor for a plan to get healthy.

Being overweight or obese can lead to kidney damage and failure over time. In many cases, obesity causes high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, both of which increase your risk for kidney disease. Even if you don’t have full-blown hypertension or other conditions that affect your kidneys directly, obesity is still a major cause of chronic kidney disease.

Treating Obesity

If you have kidney disease and are overweight or obese, then weight loss could be your best hope. Losing just 5% to 10% of your body weight is enough to improve your kidney health and reduce protein levels in your urine. If you find it difficult to lose weight, it may be because of a condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can cause a variety of other health problems as well, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

How can you lose weight if you have kidney disease and sleep apnea? In order to lose weight effectively, you need to sleep better. Some lifestyle changes that may help include: ____.