New research confirms that weight loss is an effective first-line intervention for overweight or obese women with urinary incontinence. Such patients should be encouraged to lose weight, but must also be given access to a full range of treatment options.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Subak, L. L. et al. Weight loss to treat urinary incontinence in overweight and obese women. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 481–490 (2009).
Hannestad, Y. S., Rortveit, G., Daltveit, A. K. & Hunskaar, S. Are smoking and other lifestyle factors associated with female urinary incontinence? The Norwegian EPINCONT Study. BJOG 110, 247–254 (2003).
Richter, H. E. et al. Urinary and anal incontinence in morbidly obese women considering weight loss surgery. Obstet. Gynecol. 106, 1272–1277 (2005).
Lambert, D. M., Marceau, S. & Forse, R. A. Intra-abdominal pressure in the morbidly obese. Obes. Surg. 15, 1225–1232 (2005).
Ahroni, J. H., Montgomery, K. F. & Watkins, B. M. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: weight loss, co-morbidities, medication usage and quality of life at one year. Obes. Surg. 15, 641–647 (2005).
Burgio, K. L., Richter, H. E., Clements, R. H., Redden, D. T. & Goode, P. S. Changes in urinary and fecal incontinence symptoms with weight loss surgery in morbidly obese women. Obstet. Gynecol. 110, 1034–1040 (2007).
Auwad, W. et al. Moderate weight loss in obese women with urinary incontinence: a prospective longitudinal study. Int. Urogynecol. J. Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 19, 1251–1259 (2008).
Subak, L. L. et al. Weight loss: a novel and effective treatment for urinary incontinence. J. Urol. 174, 190–195 (2005).
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Urinary incontinence: the management of urinary incontinence in women. NICE clinical guideline 40. http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/word/CG40quickrefguide1006.pdf
Greer, W. J., Richter, H. E., Bartolucci, A. A. & Burgio, K. L. Obesity and pelvic floor disorders: a systematic review. Obstet. Gynecol. 112, 341–349 (2008).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aye, C., Price, N. & Jackson, S. Can weight loss treat urinary incontinence in obese women?. Nat Rev Urol 6, 247–248 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2009.74
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2009.74