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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Is my obesity causing my night leg cramps?

    Related Topics
    Obesity Weight Management
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    Lorna Garden

    Dietitian

    Lorna is an experienced sports dietitian and nutritionist providing general and individual high performance eating advice to people throughout Australia. Lorna Garden is a dietitian … View Profile

    Night leg cramps (or nocturnal cramps) are strong, painful contractions or tightening of a leg muscle that comes on suddenly during the night and can last from a few seconds to several minutes.
    The cause of spontaneous leg cramps is not always known, although leg position while sleeping, dehydration, pregnancy, mineral imbalance, and over exercising of the muscle are all believed to be possible contributing factors.  Some medications may affect potassium and other mineral levels in the body, resulting in muscle cramping, and peripheral artery disease can also cause leg cramping.  
    Whilst there seems to be little scientific evidence to suggest that being overweight or obese is a direct cause of night leg cramps, it is possible, that excess weight puts strain on leg muscles, particularly if a lot of standing occurs during the day, causing a similar effect to overexercising.  Being very overweight can also result in the legs being in an awkward position during sleep, predisposing them to cramping.  
    Whilst most cases of night leg cramps are benign and simply annoying, if they occur frequently, speak to your GP.    It is quite likely that steadily reducing excess body weight,  including adequate mineral rich fruits and vegetables, and ensuring adequate daily fluid intake may resolve the problem for you, and of course, will have many other positive health benefits.

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    Arlene Normand

    Dietitian

    Arlene is a registered practising dietitian, with a private practice in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, and has built a strong business over the last … View Profile

    A leg cramp is a sudden, uncontrolled contraction of a muscle. This type of pain is most commonly experienced in the lower extremity, and therefore often called a leg cramp or a “charley horse.”
    Leg cramps occur when the muscle suddenly and forcefully contracts. The most common muscles to contract in this manner are muscles that cross two joints. These muscles include the calf (crossing the ankle and knee), the hamstring (crossing the knee and hip), and the quadriceps (also crossing the knee and hip). Leg cramps usually last less than one minute, but may last several minutes before the contraction subsides. In some patients, the spasms occur primarily at night, and can awaken the patient from sleep. More severe leg cramps can cause pain that lasts several days after the cramp occurs.
    The exact cause of a leg cramp is not well understood, but there are some risk factors that are thought to contribute to this condition:

    • Muscle fatigue
    • Heavy exercising
    • Dehydration
    • High weight (not necessarily obesity)
    • Electrolyte imbalances
    • Medications (statins, prednisone, others…)
    The most common cause that is typically seen in patients who develop leg cramps is exercising in an unusual way, meaning either more activity or a different exercise. Leg cramps are more common in young (adolescent age) and older (over 65) patients. Patients who weigh more are more prone to developing leg cramps. Also, some medications can cause side effects of muscle spasms.  To prevent leg cramps stay hydrated. It is not well known exactly how dehydration and muscle cramping are related, but it is known that dehydration can predispose to leg cramps. Drink at least three full glasses of water each day, including one before bedtime. Also drink plenty of fluid before, during, and after exercise. Stretch regularly as it can relax muscle fibres. Make sure you cool down after exercising, and do not exercise vigorously just prior to sleep. Train gradually and  build up an exercise program, and try to avoid sudden increases in activity. The “10% Rule” is a good rule of thumb: never increase your exercise over one week by more than 10% compared to the week before. Sudden changes in activities can cause leg cramps. Most athletes that have leg cramps, such as long-distance runners, have increased their level of intensity or duration of activity too quickly.
     
    Usually instinct takes over when a leg cramp strikes, and you massage and stretch the sore muscle. This is a perfect instinct and often solves the acute problem. The best steps are- Massage the cramped muscle, Stretch the muscle (gently!), and take a hot shower or bath to warm and relax the muscle.
    If leg cramps become a persistent and recurring problem, you should be evaluated by your doctor. Because electrolyte imbalances can cause cramping, some blood may be analyzed to ensure the levels of potassium and other electrolytes are normal. There are also muscle relaxing medications that can be prescribed if the muscle cramping is a problem, particularly at night. Finally, your medications and medical history should be reviewed to investigate for possible factors contributing to your leg cramps.
    Obesity can put a strain on the muscle which it cannot cope with resulting in it cramping. Obesity is not healthy so losing the excess weight is recommended whether it is causing the leg cramp or not as it may result in other problems.

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    Dave Morris

    HealthShare Member

    It may be, because obesity leads to other health problems. Weight-loss treatments and obesity surgeries and procedures are designed to reduce illness and death caused by obesity. For many, weight loss improves multiple conditions including high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. In addition, other body systems, including digestive, endocrine, and immune system benefit. You may want to read more on Placidway.

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