Weight Loss Helps Incontinence

Excess weight raises the risk of urinary incontinence by increasing pressure on the bladder and by weakening the muscles of the pelvic floor.  A new study found that for young and middle-aged women, being overweight increased risk of incontinence by 35%, and for those in the obese range, the risk doubled compared to normal-weight women.  Conversely, another study found that overweight women who lost an average of 17 lbs. had a 47% reduction in incontinence events.  Research shows weight loss also helps reduce this problem in men.