There’s yet another strong reason to shed that extra flab around the waist. According to preliminary reports of an ongoing Pan-India study in nine hospitals across the country, obese people are twice as likely to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to those with normal weight. CKD is a condition where the kidney functions deteriorate progressively.
Obesity also increases the likelihood of progression of kidney disease and development of complications, such as cardiovascular disease, as per the preliminary survey conducted by the George Institute for Global Health (GIGH). It is funded by the Department of Biotechnology under the Union Science and Technology Ministry.
Among the men, the overall prevalence of obesity was at 49 per cent, but the figure in women was a whopping 57 per cent, as per the initial reports.
Dr Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director of the GIGH, India said that over 5,000 patients with kidney disease will be studied with the aim of following them up over a long period to identify the risk factors so that appropriate timely prevention measures can be applied.
The preliminary reports based on data available from 1,500 CKD patients has shown alarmingly high levels of body mass index and waist circumference, thus highlighting the association between measures of obesity and development and progression of CKD, he added.
Around 5,000 patients with CKD from premier institutes like PGI Chandigarh, JIPMER, BHU, Ormania University, CMC Vellore, Kamla Nehru Hospital in Bhopal are being studied.
The data on abdominal obesity is even more alarming, with about 63 per cent of women and 48 per cent of men exhibiting waist circumference beyond the cut-offs accepted for the Asian population.
“The data confirms the fact that there is high prevalence of obesity in patients with CKD. Of particular concern is the high prevalence of abdominal obesity among women.
“There are no data on this relationship from India. We hope to follow these patients over a period and review their biomarkers from time to time so that we can understand better the mechanisms underlying the link between CKD and obesity,” Dr Jha said.
According to WHO, by 2025 obesity will affect 18 per cent of men and over 21 per cent of women worldwide. A growing body of evidence indicates that obesity is also a potent risk factor for the development of CKD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
People who are overweight or obese have 2 to 7 more chances of developing ESRD compared to those of normal weight. Obesity may lead to CKD both indirectly by increasing type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, and also by causing direct kidney damage by increasing the workload of the kidneys and other mechanisms.
How to prevent CKD
Exercise regularly; Manage blood sugar levels; Keep blood pressure at optimum levels; eat healthy and keep weight under control; maintaining a healthy fluid intake, drink enough water; avoid smoking; avoid self-medication and over-the-counter pills; annual check-ups necessary for those above 40.