According to a new study, obesity almost doubles the chances of developing kidney stones. The condition can be incredibly painful and even require surgery.
According to a new study, obesity almost doubles the chances of developing kidney stones. The condition can be incredibly painful and even require surgery.
Earlier works have reported that obesity is a risk factor for kidney stone disease. However, the effect of increasing degrees of obesity on stone formation has yet to be defined. To address this question, researchers examined how an increasing body mass index affects the risk of kidney stone disease.
The study involved 95,598 people who had completed a health risk assessment form when buying insurance. The group had all given information about their body mass index (BMI), the standard measurement for obesity. BMI is a ratio of weight to height calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. A score of between 18 and 25 is considered normal, while 25 to 30 is overweight, 30 to 40 obese and over 40 morbidly obese.
Among those of a healthy weight, 2.6 per cent had developed kidney stones. However, that rose to 4.9 per cent for those classed as obese - that is, with a BMI score above 30.
It was found that around one in 20 obese people had developed the stones, compared to around one in 40 of a normal weight. Being extremely overweight, or morbidly obese, did not appear to further increase the chances of developing the painful illness.
The findings indicate that an obese body mass index is associated with an increased risk of kidney stone disease. However, the magnitude of this risk appears to be stable in the morbidly obese population.
Earlier works have reported that obesity is a risk factor for kidney stone disease. However, the effect of increasing degrees of obesity on stone formation has yet to be defined. To address this question, researchers examined how an increasing body mass index affects the risk of kidney stone disease.
The study involved 95,598 people who had completed a health risk assessment form when buying insurance. The group had all given information about their body mass index (BMI), the standard measurement for obesity. BMI is a ratio of weight to height calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. A score of between 18 and 25 is considered normal, while 25 to 30 is overweight, 30 to 40 obese and over 40 morbidly obese.
Among those of a healthy weight, 2.6 per cent had developed kidney stones. However, that rose to 4.9 per cent for those classed as obese - that is, with a BMI score above 30.
It was found that around one in 20 obese people had developed the stones, compared to around one in 40 of a normal weight. Being extremely overweight, or morbidly obese, did not appear to further increase the chances of developing the painful illness.
The findings indicate that an obese body mass index is associated with an increased risk of kidney stone disease. However, the magnitude of this risk appears to be stable in the morbidly obese population.
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