Obesity Paradox in Kidney Diseases

Obesity is one of the most important health problem in the world. Elevated mortality risk can be seen with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, glomerular hyperfiltration, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases. However, it has been observed that obesity positively affects survival especially in people with chronic kidney disease, elderly people, chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. This situation has been called the obesity paradox. Studies are showing that the obesity paradox is valid in dialysis patients. Examinations have shown that the obesity paradox is affected by many factors such as ethnic origin, fat-muscle mass, and body mass index (BMI). The hypothetical pathophysiology of the obesity paradox reveals how obesity improves survival in chronic kidney disease.

Keyword: Obesity paradox; Obesity; Kidney diseases

Abbreviations: BMI: Body Mass Index, CKD: Chronic Kidney Disease, ESRD: End-Stage Renal Disease