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A recent study from the University of Jyväskylä has uncovered a connection between eating habits and pelvic floor disorder symptoms in middle-aged women. The research indicates that a greater intake of heavily processed foods and fast foods correlates with an increased risk of experiencing stress and urgency urinary incontinence. Conversely, a diet rich in fruits and overall higher nutritional quality appears to lower the risk of stress urinary incontinence.
The incidence of pelvic floor disorders tends to escalate as women transition towards menopause. Factors such as estrogen decline, natural aging processes, reproductive history, and elements that elevate intra-abdominal pressure can cause both structural and functional impairments in the pelvic floor. Moreover, lifestyle factors, particularly dietary habits, may play a crucial role in influencing the prevalence and severity of these disorders.
According to doctoral researcher Mari Kuutti from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, “Eating behaviour has been minimally studied as a potential risk factor for pelvic floor disorders.” Kuutti and her team investigated how different eating patterns might contribute to the development of these symptoms.
The term disordered eating encompasses various behaviors, including both binge eating and restrictive eating, as well as the fluctuation between these two extremes.
Kuutti noted that their findings revealed a significant trend: “Women reporting disordered eating were more prone to experience symptoms of pelvic floor disorders than those with normal eating patterns.”
The specific disorders examined in the study included stress urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and difficulties with constipation and defecation.
Understanding the Prevalence of Pelvic Floor Disorders
Pelvic floor disorders are quite prevalent, as more than half of the study’s participants reported experiencing associated symptoms. Stress urinary incontinence was identified as the most commonly reported issue. The study further established that specific eating behaviors and dietary choices were linked to the onset of these disorders.
“We analyzed both the negative and positive relationships between common Finnish food items and pelvic floor disorder symptoms,” Kuutti explained.
For instance, increased consumption of processed and fast foods was found to elevate the likelihood of experiencing stress and urgency urinary incontinence symptoms. In contrast, a higher intake of fruits and a generally healthier diet were associated with a reduction in stress urinary incontinence instances.
To counteract these issues, it is suggested that women at risk should undergo evaluations of their eating habits, with a focus on promoting healthy dietary patterns.
This research is part of the larger ERMA study, which involved over 1,000 women aged between 47 and 55 from the Jyväskylä area. Participants provided information about their eating behaviors as well as demographic details—including age, body mass index, education level, physical activity, and gynecological history—via questionnaires.
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