Recent research has found that losing weight resulted in women almost halving usual weekly urinary incontinence episodes. The Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise (PRIDE) saw women randomly assigned to either an intensive six-month weight-loss program of diet, exercise and behaviour modification, or to a group that received information about diet and exercise, but no training to help them change habits.

Women in the intensive weight-loss group lost an average eight per cent of their body weight and reduced weekly incontinence episodes by nearly half (47 per cent). Women in the other group lost an average of 1.6 per cent of body weight and had less than a third fewer episodes (28 per cent).

“Losing weight, as part of a long term strategy for healthy living including regular physical activity and eating a variety of food groups in moderation – can lead to significant results in reducing the severity of urinary leakage,” says Jean Hailes continence physiotherapist Janetta Webb. “This adds to the body of evidence that suggests making small changes towards a healthier lifestyle can have major benefits in overall quality of life.”

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Content Updated June 9, 2009