Watch out! Obesity linked with chronic kidney disease

Exercise regularly, eat healthy and keep your weight under control to keep a check on obesity, which is the majorly responsible for kidney disease, says a health expect, while spreading awareness on World Kidney day.

In the last decade, kidney diseases and obesity have become a major health concern with rapid increase in cases along with cancer and cardiac diseases.

According to clinicians, combination of obesity and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a lethal condition.

"Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a dangerous condition that can lead to kidney failure and the only treatment option is dialysis or kidney transplant. And it will be interesting to know that obesity is the leading cause of FSGS," said Dr Sanjeev Gulati director of Nephrology at Fortis FLt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital in New Delhi.

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) and overweight or obese people have two to seven more chances of developing ESRD.

Suggestion certain ways to keep the both at bay includes - Exercising regularly, managing blood sugar levels, keeping blood pressure at optimum levels, eating healthy and keeping weight under control, maintaining a healthy fluid intake, drinking enough water, avoiding smoking, avoiding self-medication and over-the-counter pills and annual check-ups necessary for those above 40.

Obesity may lead to CKD both indirectly by increasing Type-2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

"Obesity is the leading cause of CKD directly and indirectly. It is a 50-50 situation. In one condition, obesity directly results in CKD and in the other obesity first increases the metabolic syndrome which results in CKD and in either case we have to treat both of them simultaneously because together they are taking a toll on individuals with dual speed," Dr Gulati explained.

"Like adults, children can also be prone and affected by CKD and as clinicians we see a steady rise in such cases. Over the years I have treated families carrying genes that cause both obesity and CKD and it is scary to know that these can be passed on to the younger generation," Dr Gulati stated.