Obesity And Hernia- What Is The Relation Between Them?

by Ankita Srivastav Health Advisior & Consultant

We all heard about the term Obesity and Hernia. Before getting into their relationship, we will tell you, what is obesity and hernia.

What Is Hernia?

A hernia occurs when an internal portion of the body pushes through the wall of our body and budge out from the lower or mid-abdominal area. When it budge out, it feels like a lump. The lump disappears when the person lies down and can appear during certain activities such as coughing, running and sneezing. A hernia is one of the most common diseases nowadays. It can be treated by Hernia Surgery.

There is a total of 4 types of hernia,- Inguinal Hernia, Incisional Hernia, Hiatal Hernia, and Umbilical Hernia.

Here comes the obesity part-

What Is Obesity?

Obesity is a medical condition, it happens when a person carries excess body weight. There is a measurement of obesity, on how much a person is obese. In medical terms, a high obese person has a high Body Mass Index (BMI). Obesity can be very dangerous at times if left untreated. Sometimes, proper exercise and a healthy diet can help you to weight loss. A person, who is obese, might have to undergo an Obesity Surgery or Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery, to resolve it.

Now you are aware of what is obesity and hernia. However, how can obesity cause a hernia?

Both obesity and hernia are related to each other. It’s not that every obese person will have Hernia or vice versa, but it is a most likely scenario. According to many researchers, obese people have a high risk of inguinal hernia (ventral) because of their excess body weight.

An inguinal hernia is a ‘J’ shaped hernia, which pushes through and budges out of the abdominal wall. Amongst the obese patients, an inguinal hernia can be seen. Because of obesity, the abdominal area of a person starts to store more fat and put more pressure in the tissues or muscles. Which is why, when the person moves or exercises the inside muscle tore apart the abdominal wall and budge out.

A hernia can be very dangerous, if not taken care on time. Through Hernia surgery, it can be repaired effectively. People, who are overweight, are suggested to undergo a Weight Reduction Surgery to avoid the possibility of hernia in the future.