Obesity & Chronic Kidney Disease
Obesity is the accumulation of excess fat in the body. In most cases, this is caused by a combination of excessive food intake and a lack of physical activity.
Your body is composed of lean weight (muscle, bone, tendons, ligaments, internal organs) and fat weight (fat tissues). Generally, lean weight is referred to as the lean body mass and your fat weight is referred to as body fat percentage. Individuals with body fat percentages greater than 30% for females and 25% for males, are generally considered obese. Ideally, the body fat percentage for females should be 22% and for males 15%.
Excess fat places a lot of pressure on the body’s main organs (kidneys included) and biological systems, leading to various diseases. The heart, the kidneys, the pancreas, and other organs are all placed under enormous strain.
Fat tissues are a necessary component of the physical anatomy. Having too much of it, however, can result in serious physical and psychological problems. Individuals who are significantly overweight increase their risk of developing many serious health conditions, such as heart failure, kidney failure, respiratory ailments, bone and joint disorders, and diabetes.
How does Obesity Affect the Body?
Every extra pound of fat forces your heart to pump blood through an extra mile of blood vessels. If you are overweight, you may increase your risk of developing new diseases or worsen existing diseases. Excessive body fat is linked to:
- High blood pressure
- Increases cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Lower back problems
- Respiratory ailments
- Heart failure
- Bone and joint disorders
- Kidney failure
Obesity and Kidney Failure
When someone has excessive fat, they place themselves at great risk of developing a number of serious medical conditions including kidney failure.
High Blood Pressure
Individuals who are obese will most likely develop high blood pressure (hypertension) in their lifetime. Fat is tissue, just like muscles or organs, and requires a constant blood supply. Each pound of fat contains approximately one mile of blood vessels. This means that each extra pound of fat places additional pressure on the heart to pump extra blood through the body. This causes the heart to work much harder to pump blood around the body, which results in high blood pressure.
Hypertension is an underlying cause of kidney failure. The force of the blood damages vital tissues and vessels within the kidneys, causing them to fail over time.
Diabetes
When a person is overweight, it usually means that they are eating too much of the wrong kinds of food (especially sweets). This places additional stain on the pancreas to produce insulin. Over time, the pancreas may not be able to cope with this heavy workload and may begin to malfunction. Consequently, it will not be able to produce the amount of insulin needed, resulting in diabetes. Individuals who are obese are at greater risk of developing diabetes and kidney failure.
Toxins
Overweight individuals often experience a buildup of toxins caused by poor digestion and unhealthy diets. Undigested food remaining in the colon produces toxins that enter the bloodstream through normal biological processes.
One of the kidneys' primary functions is to filter toxins and waste from the blood. However, in individuals with obesity, these waste levels increase significantly. The kidneys are not equipped to handle this excess strain, which can lead to kidney failure over time.
In summary, the link between obesity and kidney failure comes down to the continuous strain placed on the body's vital organs. Maintaining a healthy body weight is essential for optimal kidney health. You can protect your kidneys and reduce these risks through sustainable lifestyle habits: eating a balanced diet, managing calorie intake, and exercising regularly.
If you would like to be referred to a dietician who can help you to make healthy dietary choices and lifestyle changes please let your provider know.