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Dr. Andre A. Kulisz
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Obesity - a Risk Factor Associated with Incontinence
Obesity is a noted risk factor associated with the stress urinary incontinence (Bump and McClish, 1994). In a way the mechanism of this factor is similar to the pregnancy. In both cases the mass of uterus (in pregnancy), or fatty tissues (in obesity) dwell on the top of the bladder squeezing it, thus lowering the bladder volume and increasing the bladder pressure.
When it comes to the incontinence caused by pregnancy, it goes away after a child is born. When it comes to the incontinence caused by obesity, it usually goes away after some weight is lost. When I discussed this particular etiology with physicians from Europe, Asia, and from the States, the consensus was that if the obesity is the only cause of incontinence, the weight loss maybe all that is needed to become dry again.
You may try to illustrate this with a balloon filled with water. The more you squeeze the balloon the more leak you see. That's all that is to it. Besides, being slimmer, usually makes people feel better, healthier, and happier.
There is an anecdotal rule to becoming dry through the weight loss (once again: if the obesity is the only reason for incontinence): you should see a substantial improvement loosing only half of what you weigh above your "standard" weight. If your "standard" weight is 150 pounds and you weigh 210 pounds, dropping the first 30 pounds should show a substantial improvement.
There is another rule to keep in mind: be patient and persistent. Allow some time for the results to show. Give yourself at least a month for every ten years of your age. If you are fifty, give yourself at least 5 months to became continent. Also, allow about a month for every five to ten pounds of weight loss.
Try it. There is nothing to lose but pounds and wetness.
The weight loss can be substantially enhanced by exercises, both pelvic floor and general workouts. These, balanced whole diet and food supplements could help improve metabolic processes, and as a result lose weight in a "healthier" way, without the worry that you may gain it again (as long as you take care of yourself). In fact any weight loss without exercises and proper nourishment maybe very short lived. The bounceback may cause you to be more obese that you were before.
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On-line health assessment and nutritional advice from myfoodforhealth.com
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