Studies have shown living kidney donors continue to have a low risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD); however, the risk increases for obese and overweight donors. The clinical guideline Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) suggests that overweight and obese patients to lose weight before donating and maintain a healthy post-donation weight.
Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more, has become a growing health problem in the United States during the last several decades. With the emergence of the obesity pandemic, the general public is at a higher risk for various medical comorbidities, such as metabolic syndrome, which is linked to the development of cardiovascular and chronic renal disease. Not unexpectedly, the possible donor pool for living kidney donor transplantation has gotten less healthy over time, mirroring overall demographic trends.
However, many people who want to be Living Kidney Donors (LKDs) for family members or loved ones are barred from donating organs because LKD candidates who exceed transplant facilities’ BMI requirements are forced to reduce weight before donation clearance.
Several studies have shown that obesity is a substantial medical obstacle to live kidney donation. Although, there is no universal agreement on a BMI cutoff for organ donation, several facilities in the United States employ a BMI limit of 35 kg/m2. These practices are in place in part owing to a known link between increasing BMI and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and end stage renal disease (ESRD) in the general patient population, as well as the rising incidence of obesity-related kidney diseases.
If your transplant center has requested that you lose weight prior to donation, you must proceed with extreme caution. Even if you have a high BMI, your body may be deficient in certain nutrients. Body mass index (BMI) and body weight are not the only indicators of good nutrition.
Optimizing your weight before surgery enables you to remain as healthy as possible before and after surgery, resulting in better outcomes and a faster recovery. Patients having a BMI more than 35 before to surgery have been demonstrated to have increased surgical risks. Based on individual health condition, weight history, how much weight reduction is required, and how long you have been attempting to lose weight, there are a range of choices available to assist patients address appropriate weight management. Discuss these alternatives with your Transplant Dietitian to determine which are best for you.
What is Medically Managed Weight Loss?
Medically managed weight reduction, which is overseen by a weight management specialist, employs the most recent scientific research, appetite suppressant medications, and lifestyle suggestions to create a supervised weight loss program that is tailored to each patient.
What is Bariatric Surgery? Should I Consider it?
Bariatric Surgery may be an option for patients whose BMI classifies them as obese and who have been unsuccessful with diet and exercise. This form of surgery helps patient to lose weight by altering the stomach to limit the quantity of food they may consume. These operations, combined with a healthy lifestyle, can be part of the answer, but they, like any surgery, can have long-term impacts and risks associated with it.
References
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