The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is reminding Americans that being overweight increases the risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, the two most common causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). People affected by obesity have an 83 percent higher risk of developing CKD compared to those who have a healthy weight.
More than 20 million people — approximately 1 in 10 American adults — have kidney disease. More than 1 in 3 U.S. adults, and about 1 in 5 teens, are affected by obesity. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health, is working to improve those odds.