A patient sent a Facebook Message to KidneyBuzz.com and said, "My doctor says that I need to lose weight, but I am comfortable where I am and I heard it is better to be a bit above ideal weight anyway. Is that true?"

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One of the biggest challenges that Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients face is weight management. Due to the fact that patients must limit fruits and vegetables in their diets, many resort to less than healthy choices to satisfy their hunger. Limited energy prevents Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients from exercising as often or intensively as they likely desire.  This all culminates into many patients that are above ideal weight, ineligible for a Kidney Transplant, and considered unhealthy. While being too heavy may be bad for most patients, having a little higher Body Mass Index (BMI) has been proven to protect Dialysis patients from the common and serious complications of Chronic Inflammation.

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As most Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients are aware, Chronic Inflammation is directly linked to the leading cause of death in the Chronic Kidney Disease Community, Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Peter Stenvinkel (lead author of the study) said, "We found that high BMI had a protective action, by which I mean that it was linked to longer survival rates for the Dialysis patients with Chronic Inflammation." This will be news for many Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients. 

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Some may ask, "Well, does that mean I can cancel my gym membership or walking partner and become obese without concern?" The answer is an emphatic, "NO." Continue to lead as healthy a lifestyle as possible. However, if you are one of the many patients who is actively struggling with Chronic Inflammation then you, "should not be recommended to lose weight," noted Dr. Stenvinkel.

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According to the Research Team, there are several reasons why high BMI protects patients. For instance, "a high BMI can reflect stored nutrient reserves in the form of body fat and muscle mass and a good appetite, which are particularly important for people with severe Kidney Disease." Also, elevated BMI may have some part to play in repairing damaged tissues to improve healing times.

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Causes of Chronic Inflammation include infections that linger, toxins, pollutants, insomnia, lack of exercise, malnutrition, and severe obesity (especially if large amounts of fat are around the stomach).  Foods can assist in reducing inflammation such as: 

• Fish 
• Poultry (chicken breast)
• Lean red meat
• Low cholesterol egg products
• Eggs or egg whites
• Soy products 
• Olive oil
• Red bell peppers
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Garlic
• Onions
• Apples
• Cranberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Red grapes

DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. mentioned, "Eating fish two to three times a week helps treat inflammation because of the anti-inflammatory effect of omega-3 fatty acids in fish." The best options may be albacore tuna, herring, mackerel, rainbow trout, and salmon. All Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients should try to reduce their inflammation to improve survival and quality of life. Bring this article to your Nephrologists and see how you can adjust your Healthcare Plan to further improve your health outcomes. Also, discuss MV One with your Nephrologists which is a Dialysis Specialized daily multivitamin that helps lower Chronic Inflammation (click here for more information). 

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