Weight Loss is Good for the Kidneys

Weight Loss is Good for the Kidneys: Losing weight may preserve kidney function in obese people with kidney disease, according to a study. The findings indicate that taking off the pounds could be an important step kidney disease patients can take to protect their health. Weight loss can improve a number of health problems. To see if losing weight might also have beneficial effects on the kidneys, they analyzed the studies that examined the effects of weight loss interventions in obese kidney disease patients. The analysis revealed that weight loss attained through diet and exercise reduces proteinuria (excess excretion of protein in the urine -- a hallmark of kidney damage) and may prevent additional decline in kidney function in obese patients with kidney disease. Studies also showed that surgical interventions normalize the filtration rate of the kidneys in obese patients with high filtration rates (a risk factor for the development of kidney disease).

"Weight Loss Interventions in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/, doi 10.2215/CJN.02250409.