Public Awareness of Obesity and Risk of Pelvic Floor Disorders: A Cohort Study

Abstract

Importance: Obesity is a risk factor for pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), but limited information exists about the public awareness of this association.

Objective: Our primary objective was to assess awareness of the association between obesity and PFDs, comparing 2 cohorts of women with body mass index (BMI) <30 versus BMI ≥30.

Study design: We conducted a cross-sectional, survey-based cohort study. The survey included questions about demographics, height and weight self-assessment, and the risk of PFDs with obesity. Our primary outcome was the rate of women correctly identifying that obesity increases the risk of PFDs.

Results: Of 377 eligible participants 272 (72.1%) completed the survey, with 266 analyzed. Of these, 159 (59.8%) had a BMI <30 and 107 (40.2%) had a BMI ≥30. Comparing the cohorts, the lower BMI cohort was older (mean age of 54.4 ± 18.3 vs 48.4 ± 17.5 years, P = 0.008) and had higher rates of graduate/professional school (35.2% vs 19.6%, P = 0.04). Both groups had similarly high rates of PFDs. There was no difference in identifying obesity as a risk factor for PFDs, although the lower BMI group was less likely to identify the implications of weight loss on urinary incontinence (UI) (27.7% vs 45.8%, P = 0.002). Controlling for potential confounders, obesity remained positively associated with knowledge about the implications of weight loss on UI (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.4).

Conclusions: Few women identified the increased risk of PFDs with obesity. Obese women may have increased awareness of the implications of weight loss on UI.