Exercising and Eating Right Can Help Prevent Loss of Bladder Control

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Lifestyle intervention is associated with lower prevalence of urinary incontinence: the Diabetes Prevention Program, by J.S. Brown and colleagues. Diabetes Care 29:385–390, 2006.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Urinary incontinence means that you can't always control when you urinate. Women who have type 2 diabetes are at a 50-70% higher risk for urinary incontinence.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to see if losing weight by diet and exercise could help lower the risk for urinary incontinence.

Who was studied?

Almost 2,000 women who took part in the Diabetes Prevention Program. For more information on the Diabetes Prevention Program, visit http://www.preventdiabetes.com. On average, the women were 50 years old, overweight or obese, and had pre-diabetes.

How was the study done?

One-third of the women were given a diabetes drug (metformin) to treat their pre-diabetes, one-third were told to diet and exercise to treat their pre-diabetes, and one-third were given lifestyle advice and a placebo (a pill that has no effect). The women followed this routine for almost three years.

What did the researchers find?

The women who changed their diet and exercised had a lower risk for urinary incontinence. The researchers believe this is because they lost more weight than the women in the other groups. The women in the diet and exercise group also had a lower risk for type 2 diabetes.

What were the limitations of the study?

The researchers did not have information on how many women had urinary incontinence when the study started. As a result, they couldn’t tell if eating right and exercising improved symptoms of urinary incontinence.

What are the implications of the study?

Eating right and exercising can help women avoid urinary incontinence, and this may be a powerful motivator to eat better and exercise more.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Older Women With Diabetes Have a Higher Risk for Poor Bladder Control

Diet and Exercise Can Help Prevent Future Heart Problems

101 Weight Loss Tips for Preventing and Controlling Diabetes

Pre-Diabetes