There are many problems that can arise from being overweight. But one thing that many people may never have expected is kidney stones. While some overweight people deal with kidney stones, there are plenty of overweight people that have no issues with it. So is there really a kidney stones overweight link?
The Data Tells the True Story
The answer is yes. Poor diets are a "key contributory factor" in the development of Kidney Stones, with consumption of too much animal protein and levels of salt creating a "breeding ground" for kidney stones. The link between kidney stones and being overweight is undeniable if you look at the research. Researchers had found that when comparing overweight men and women with the same groups that were within a healthy weight range, there was a higher incidence of kidney stones.
Source: Obesity, Weight Gain, and the Risk of Kidney Stones
Why Does Being Overweight Lead to an Increased Chance of Getting Kidney Stones?
There are a few reasons why being overweight increases the chances of you developing kidney stones. First of all, obesity often leads to insulin resistance. This leads to metabolic issues that directly impact renal ammonium secretion. This has an impact on lowering pH which leads to an environment that can lead to kidney stones forming.
Then there's how body size impacts the abundance of calcium salts. You may be aware that calcium oxalate stones are the most common type of kidney stone. In this case, it's often not the actual oxalates that are the problem. It's the abundance of calcium available to bind to the oxalates.
With most kidney stone diets, it's recommended that you reduce the amount of foods with high oxalate content such as leafy greens, chocolate, beans, etc. If you are overweight, this means that adjusting your diet to reduce the amount of oxalate consumption may help, but it may not be enough.
Calcium oxalate and uric acid stones are the most common stones found in obese patients, with calcium oxalate stones still being the most prevalent in obese and non-obese populations. The increased levels of uric acid stones, however, are enriched amongst obese stone formers.
A Healthy Diet and Fitness Routine Is Needed
If you have noticed that your incidence of kidney stones seemed to overlap with your weight gain, then you need to take the right steps to address this issue. The first thing you can do is to reduce foods with high oxalate content. But in the long run, you want to address your weight issue.
You need to eat a healthier diet that includes more fruits and vegetables. You want to consume smaller portions. And you want to start a fitness program to lose weight as diet alone often isn't enough. These are the things that will go a long way in preventing a recurrence of kidney stones.
