Obesity May Be a Frequent Barrier to Living Kidney Donation

New research suggests obesity may be a frequent barrier to living kidney donation. In a single center, retrospective analysis of 104 potential living kidney donors between 2008 and 2012, a total of 23 individuals (22%) were moderately or morbidly obese (BMI > 35), and of these only three (13%) succeeded at losing weight and donating. The Clinical Transplantation study found 82% of individuals were overweight (37%) or obese (BMI 30–34.9 [23%], 35– 39.9 [16%], and > 40 [6%]).