Obesity: A Major Risk Factor For Gout

Posted on March 16, 2009 in Latest News

Gout is a condition in which the joints become painful, red and inflamed. Gout is caused when the urate crystals accumulate in the joints, due to the high amount of uric acid in the blood. Among the many risk factors of gout such as lifestyle factors, sex, age etc.  people who are obese are at high risk of getting gout.

Being overweight and eating foods such as red meat, sea food, greatly increases the risk of gout. Other factors which increase the risk of gout are:

How are Obesity and Gout Linked?
When a person is obese, there is an extra pressure on body joints. There are also chemical changes in the body due to the fat tissue. These two factors can increase the risk of gout. An obese person is 4 times more likely to get gout than a non-obese person.

Overeating and being overweight have been associated with gout. People with higher BMI have increased uric acid levels, which increases the risk of gout. However, the good news is that with weight loss, the uric acid levels in the blood are decreased.

As obesity is a risk factor of getting gout, it is important for people to start exercising and eat healthy. According to the dietary guidelines released by the U.S. government, about 60 minutes of physical activity is needed for adults every day

Obesity and body fat are major factors which increase the risk of gout. Hence, by losing weight you would not only be healthy, but also decrease your chances of getting gout significantly.

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