For severely obese women who suffer from incontinence, many gain control over urination after undergoing gastric-band weight-loss surgery.
For severely obese women who suffer from incontinence, many gain control over urination after undergoing gastric-band weight-loss surgery.
Previous studies have showed the link between obesity and urinary incontinence, especially in females. Gastric banding surgery is being used more commonly as an option for weight loss in the obese population, with good effect. But very little is known about the urological issues following gastric banding. Obesity is a growing health issue worldwide, increasing the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. Also, about one in four people has some form of urinary incontinence, which may be attributable to obesity. In laparoscopic gastric banding, one of the most common forms of weight-loss surgery, surgeons place a band around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch, which reduces the amount of food people can eat before feeling full.
The researchers analysed surveys completed by 142 women (average age, 48 years) and 34 men (average age, 53 years) in Australia who underwent gastric band surgery over a decade. The participants were asked to recall their urinary and erectile dysfunction symptoms before and after surgery.
Sixty-five percent of the women said they had incontinence before to the surgery, as did about a quarter of the men. The high numbers suggest, but don't prove, that obesity may play a role. In females, it is thought that the excess weight around the abdominal region increases the pressure on the bladder, causing urinary incontinence, especially when coughing, laughing or sneezing. In males, this is a more complex mechanism and is poorly understood.
It was found that on an average, men and women lost about 50 pounds after gastric banding. Overall, incontinence improved after surgery among the women, but they suffered from more urge incontinence - urination that usually occurs after a sudden urge to urinate. The overall improvement may have occurred because weight loss reduces pressure on the urinary tract. Symptoms of incontinence in men did not improve after surgery. And though 83 percent of the men reported erectile dysfunction before the procedure, overall they said they had more sexual problems afterward.
The study did not analyse sexual sensitivity in the women. And also the study's value is limited because it relies on people's recollections. However, the findings regarding women and incontinence are consistent with other research. As for men, it's known that weight loss helps improve erectile dysfunction although the specific effects of weight-loss surgery still need to be studied.
Previous studies have showed the link between obesity and urinary incontinence, especially in females. Gastric banding surgery is being used more commonly as an option for weight loss in the obese population, with good effect. But very little is known about the urological issues following gastric banding. Obesity is a growing health issue worldwide, increasing the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. Also, about one in four people has some form of urinary incontinence, which may be attributable to obesity. In laparoscopic gastric banding, one of the most common forms of weight-loss surgery, surgeons place a band around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch, which reduces the amount of food people can eat before feeling full.
The researchers analysed surveys completed by 142 women (average age, 48 years) and 34 men (average age, 53 years) in Australia who underwent gastric band surgery over a decade. The participants were asked to recall their urinary and erectile dysfunction symptoms before and after surgery.
Sixty-five percent of the women said they had incontinence before to the surgery, as did about a quarter of the men. The high numbers suggest, but don't prove, that obesity may play a role. In females, it is thought that the excess weight around the abdominal region increases the pressure on the bladder, causing urinary incontinence, especially when coughing, laughing or sneezing. In males, this is a more complex mechanism and is poorly understood.
It was found that on an average, men and women lost about 50 pounds after gastric banding. Overall, incontinence improved after surgery among the women, but they suffered from more urge incontinence - urination that usually occurs after a sudden urge to urinate. The overall improvement may have occurred because weight loss reduces pressure on the urinary tract. Symptoms of incontinence in men did not improve after surgery. And though 83 percent of the men reported erectile dysfunction before the procedure, overall they said they had more sexual problems afterward.
The study did not analyse sexual sensitivity in the women. And also the study's value is limited because it relies on people's recollections. However, the findings regarding women and incontinence are consistent with other research. As for men, it's known that weight loss helps improve erectile dysfunction although the specific effects of weight-loss surgery still need to be studied.
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