Lifestyle, weight tied to urinary symptoms

Adults who are obese or have less-than-ideal lifestyle habits may be more likely to have multiple, and more severe, urinary problems, new research suggests.

In a study of more than 5,500 men and women aged 30 to 79, researchers found that three-quarters of women and two-thirds of men reported at least one urinary tract symptoms - such as frequent trips to the bathroom overnight, difficulty emptying the bladder and urinary incontinence.

Obese adults were more likely than their normal-weight counterparts to have multiple, more severe symptoms. Smoking, lack of exercise and heavy drinking were also linked to more serious urinary problems.