Weight loss can reduce embarassing incontinence in women

The first line of treatment for urinary incontinence in overweight and obese women should be weight loss, according to researchers presenting a study at the American Urogynecologic Society 19th Annual Scientific Meeting.

The Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise (PRIDE) is a multicentre, randomised clinical trial including 338 overweight and obese women (BMI 25-30 kg/m2) experiencing up to 10 episodes of UI per week. The cohort had a mean age of 53 years and mean weight of 97 kg.

According to patients' reports on 7-day voiding diaries, 22% of the women experienced stress incontinence, 43% had urge incontinence, and 35% experienced mixed UI.

Although the main objective was to determine the effect of weight loss on UI among obese and overweight women at 18 months, the study's secondary objective was to evaluate the association between the magnitude of weight loss and frequency of incontinence episodes.

The women were randomised to either an intensive 6-month weight loss program that included diet, exercise, and behavioural modification followed by a 12-month weight maintenance program or to a structured education program.

Overall, 86% of the women completed the 18-month trial. The mean weight loss at 18 months in the intervention and control groups was 6.5 kg and 1.7 kg, respectively.

Researchers found that the greater the weight loss, the greater the improvement in urinary incontinence.