**2.5 Urinary incontinence (UI)**

Urinary incontinence may be of different types: stress incontinence when pregnancy, childbirth, etc., weaken the muscles supporting and controlling bladder; urge incontinence caused by involuntary action of bladder muscles; and mixed incontinence that shares the causes of both stress and urge incontinence. Thyroid problems, uncontrolled diabetes, and medicines such as diuretics can worsen the problem of UI. High BMI, especially BMI higher than 40 kg/m2 , has been strongly associated with

stress predominant incontinence including mixed incontinence [62]. Central obesity increases the abdominal pressure, which increases the bladder pressure and urethral mobility, leading to UI. Chronic strain and stretching seen in pregnancy and abdominal obesity weaken the muscles and other structures of the pelvic floor. Surgical and non-surgical weight loss has been reported to decrease incontinence and improved quality of life.
