Andrew Siegel, M.D. Blog #101
A whopping two-thirds of adults in the USA are either overweight or obese. In 1960 the obesity rate was 13%; currently it is 36%. Our physical activities have diminished, our stress levels and our portion sizes have increased, and our derrières have expanded accordingly. There are an increasing abundance of readily available, unhealthy, processed, cheap foods. These factors in sum have contributed to our weight gain and to a very negative impact on our overall health. In addition to the more obvious increased risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, weight gain and obesity are also associated with an increased incidence of gallstones, arthritis and other joint problems, sleep apnea and other breathing problems, as well as certain cancers. There are many other less obvious effects that obesity has, negatively impacting every system in our body.
Abdominal obesity—an accumulation of fat in our midsections—not only is unattractive from a cosmetic standpoint, but can have dire metabolic consequences that can affect the quality and quantity of our lives. It is important to understand that fat is not merely the presence of excessive padding and insulation that signifies excessive intake of energy—but a metabolically active endocrine “organ” that does way more than just protrude from our abdomens, producing hormones and other chemical mediators that can have many detrimental effects on all systems of our body. So, fat is not just fat. Today’s blog will focus on the harmful ramifications of weight gain and obesity on urological health. As a urologist, on a daily basis I sadly bear witness to the adverse effects and ill consequences of America’s bulging waistline.
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition that causes urinary urgency, frequency, the need to run to the bathroom in a hurry, and at times urinary leakage before arrival at the bathroom. There is a clear-cut association between weight gain and the presence of OAB. Similar to the way obesity taxes the joints, particularly the knees, so it burdens and puts pressure on pelvic organs including the urinary bladder.
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a frequent ailment in adult women in which there is leakage of urine associated with a sudden increase in abdominal pressure, such as with sneezing, coughing, lifting, laughing, jumping, and any kind of strenuous exercise. Although the major risk factor is pregnancy, labor, and delivery, weight gain is clearly associated with exacerbating the problem.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent issue in adult women in which one or more of the pelvic organs—including the bladder, uterus, or rectum—drop down into the space of the vagina and possibly outside the vagina. Similar in respect to stress urinary incontinence in that the major risk factor is pregnancy, labor and delivery, it is most certainly associated with weight gain and obesity, which have a negative effect on tissue strength and integrity.
Kidney stones are a major source of pain and disability and are very much associated with weight gain, obesity, and dietary indiscretion. Excessive protein and salt intake are unequivocal risk factors for the occurrence of kidney stones. Uric acid stones, in particular, occur more commonly in overweight and obese people. Beyond a certain weight limitation, “larger” patients cannot be treated with the standard, non-invasive shock wave lithotripsy to break up a kidney stone and urologists must, therefore, resort to more antiquated, more invasive, more risky measures.
Hypogonadism, a condition in which there are insufficient levels of the male sex hormone testosterone, is an increasingly prevalent condition that is associated with a host of negative effects. Obesity has a pivotal role in the process leading to low testosterone. One’s waist circumference is a reasonable proxy for low testosterone. Fat has an abundance of the hormone aromatase, which functions to convert testosterone to the female sex hormone estrogen. The consequence of too much conversion of testosterone to estrogen is the potential for gynecomastia, a.k.a. “man boobs.” Too much estrogen slows testosterone production and with less testosterone more abdominal obesity occurs and even more estrogen is made, a vicious cycle of emasculation and loss of libido.
Erectile dysfunction is a very prevalent condition associated with aging and numerous other risk factors. Weight gain and obesity are major contributors to poor quality rigidity and durability of erections. This goes way beyond simply low testosterone levels. Erections in essence are all about sufficient blood flow to the penis. Obesity contributes to problems with penile blood flow that can interfere in a major way with sexual function. Additionally, as the abdominal fat pad grows, the penis seemingly shrinks and it is estimated that for every 35 pounds of weight gain, there is a 1-inch loss in apparent penile length. In fact, penile shrinkage is a very common complaint among my obese patients.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Like all cancers, prostate cancer is caused by mutations that occur during the process of cellular division. Prostate cancer has a multifactorial basis, with both genetic and environmental factors at play. There is a clear association between a Western diet and the occurrence of prostate cancer. This has been witnessed in Asian men, who have a relatively low incidence of prostate cancer in Asia, but after migrating to the USA and assuming a Western diet and lifestyle, have an incidence of prostate cancer that approaches that of Caucasians.
The obese patient presents a real challenge to the urological surgeon in terms of care both during and after an operation. Surgery on overweight patients is more complex and takes longer as it is much more difficult to achieve proper exposure of the anatomical site being operated upon. Surgery on obese patients has a higher complication rate with increased respiratory and wound problems. Anesthesiologists have more difficulty placing the breathing tube through a thick, obese neck, and greater difficulty with regional anesthesia as well, because of fatty tissue obscuring the landmarks to place the needle access for spinal anesthesia.
Bottom Line: Fat puts one at risk…for many very unfortunate potentialities. Maintaining a healthy weight is an important priority for overall health, as well as our urological health. The good news is that a lifestyle “remake” is typically the first line of treatment for many of the problems that I have just delved into and has the capacity of mitigating, if not reversing, some of them. This involves the adoption of healthy eating habits, weight loss to achieve a healthy weight, and exercising on a regular basis.
Andrew Siegel, M.D.
Author of Promiscuous Eating: Understanding and Ending Our Self-Destructive Relationship with Food: www.promiscuouseating.com
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Tags: erectile dysfunction, gynecomastia, healthy lifestyle, hypogonadism, kidney stones, obesity, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, prostate cancer, stress, stress urinary incontinence, urology, weight gain
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