In the last 20 years, obesity has become one of the largest public health concerns in our modern world, escalating into a global epidemic. Obesity has been linked to an array of serious health disorders, including chronic kidney disease (CKD).
The kidneys’ main function is to filter your blood by removing waste and extra fluid, which becomes urine. The kidneys also help the body to maintain a healthy balance of chemicals, and they produce hormones that regulate blood pressure, produce red blood cells, and strengthen your bones.
Chronic Kidney Disease
With CKD, your kidneys are unable to filter your blood properly, causing harmful waste to build up in your body. As a result, you may develop hypertension, anemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health, heart disease, or nerve damage.
These complications may develop over a long period of time, as most people afflicted with CKD do not portray any symptoms until their kidney disease is very advanced. Early detection is critical in CKD to avoid kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Obesity’s Link to Chronic Kidney Disease
Obesity has been linked to the development of CKD in a variety of ways. With increased body weight, a compensatory hyperfiltration occurs in the kidneys in order to meet the body’s heightened metabolic demands. This compensatory hyperfiltration process can damage the kidneys over time, increasing the risk for developing CKD.
In addition to hyperfiltration, the two main causes for CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure. Being overweight or obese significantly boosts your chances of developing both of these conditions, directly increasing your odds to incur CKD.
With prolonged obesity, symptoms of hypertension and diabetes can become exacerbated, causing kidney disease to progress much more rapidly than it naturally would. Due to these findings, studies indicate that weight reduction is an imperative first step in the management of kidney disease.
Contact Summit Medical Clinic
At Summit Medical Clinic, we understand the life-changing effects that kidney disease can have upon an individual. If you would like to learn more about the prevention and treatment of kidney-related diseases, contact us here or call (719) 630-1006 today!
