Main roads
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Women with deep abdominal fat have a 51% increased risk of involuntary leakage of urine
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This type of fat puts pressure on the pelvic floor and releases inflammatory substances that weaken the muscles.
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Pelvic floor physical therapy has resulted in improvements for most women within three months
WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) – For many women, a sudden sneeze or hearty laugh brings an unintended consequence: Small leaks of urine.
Often dismissed as a normal part of aging or motherhood, new research suggests the real culprit may lie deep in the belly.
Research from the Federal University of San Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil has shown that hidden fat between the internal organs is a major factor in stress. urinary incontinence.
The research was recently published in the newspaper European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology – indicates that where a woman carries her weight is more important than the number on the scale.
Stress urinary incontinence occurs when everyday activities such as coughing, lifting or exercising put too much pressure on the bladder, causing urine to leak.
“It is the leakage of urine that cannot be held when the pressure inside the abdomen and pelvic floor increases” Patricia Driusso it is said in the news. He is a professor of physical therapy at UFSCar.
For the study, 99 women underwent DXA scans, a standard imaging test that measures body composition and shows areas of fat. Their average age was 34; no one gave birth to more than two children.
The study showed that while general obesity was a risk factor for urinary incontinence, visceral obesity was the main contributor and posed a particular risk.
Visceral fat It is like a cushion of air that surrounds the abdominal organs. Depending on where it is located, it can create pressure and increase pressure on the muscles that help control the bladder and bowels.
The study found that even women with a normal BMI increased the likelihood of ejaculation by 51%. (BMI, short for body mass index, is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.)
High levels of visceral fat were also associated with a 16% increase in urinary discomfort and a 9.3% increase in the impact on daily activities in women with incontinence.
Why? The researchers pointed to two reasons.
For one, the weight of belly fat overloads the pelvic floor muscles. For another, visceral fat releases inflammatory chemicals that weaken muscle tissue over time.
The study found that about 40% of participants experienced leakage, but many women consider it a normal discomfort. Experts say that even minor incidents are a sign that the body’s support system is struggling.
Research has also linked fat accumulation around the hips, buttocks and thighs to urinary incontinence. Other factors that affect risk include aging, menopause, number of pregnancies, and birth care such as episiotomies.
Leakage is both preventable and treatable, the researchers said. While weight management helps reduce internal stress, physical therapy targeting the pelvic floor is considered the most effective treatment, Driusso said.
However, it’s not as easy as doing random kegels at your desk. About 30% of women can’t contract these muscles properly without professional guidance, and some may even end up doing the movement backwards, making the problem worse, the researchers said.
With the right training, most women see significant improvement within 12 weeks, the researchers said.
More information
The US Office on Women’s Health has guidelines pelvic floor health and bladder control.
Sources: Federal University of San Carlos, release, April 17, 2026; European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, January 19, 2026
What does this mean for you?
If you experience even occasional bowel movements, a physical therapist can help you strengthen your pelvic floor and discuss lifestyle changes to reduce abdominal pressure.
