Adding to the wide array of chronic health conditions associated with obesity, researchers at Johns Hopkins University have also determined that it nearly doubles a person’s risk for developing kidney stones. Not only that, but it seems that the level of obesity is not relevant, and regardless of whether a person is mildly or morbidly obese, the increased in risk of getting kidney stones is the same.

The findings, published in the Journal of Urology, were the result of an extensive analysis of over 95,000 patients across the country, which included information about body mass index (BMI) in relation to the presence of kidney stones. Obese individuals were defined as people with BMIs greater than 30 kg/m2. This corresponds to a person who is 5 feet tall and weighs 153 pounds, or a 6 foot tall person who weighs 221 pounds.

When the data was analyzed, the doctors found that the increase in risk for kidney stones remained constant amongst obese individuals, thus contradicting the previously held belief that the risk of kidney stones rose in proportion to the amount that a person is overweight.

A related article reports that kidney stones are also on the rise in, of all things, children. Typically kidney stones affect adults between the ages of 35 and 60, but it is becoming increasingly common for children, even as young as three years old, to come down with them.

The reason, doctors believe, is once again possibly linked to diet and lifestyle choices, and by extension, obesity. While experts are not at this time able to pinpoint the exact reason that obesity contributes to kidney stones, they believe that metabolic and endocrine factors may be to blame. Furthermore, it doesn’t help when children consume sugary soft drinks as well as fast food and processed snacks, all of which are high in sodium, a known risk factor. When these dietary choices are combined with an excess of TV and computer games (i.e., inactivity), the end result can be unwanted weight gain.

Another important consideration is hydration. In fact, some scientists believe that global warming might be an increasingly important contributing factor, with some studies predicting a huge increase in kidney stones. The reason for this is due to the fact that when water becomes scarce, people drink less of it. Dehydration causes urine to become more concentrated, and can lead to crystal formation. These crystals sit in concentrated urine and grow, eventually developing into stones. Because of this, doctors recommend that people get enough fluids throughout the day, especially during warm weather.

Common symptoms of kidney stones include abdominal pain that begins in the urinary tract and blocks the flow of urine. Sharp pains in the back and side near the kidney are not uncommon, and nausea and vomiting may result. Blood and pain may occur when urinating.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, consult with a physician to know your treatment options. For more information about kidney stones, visit the website for National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).