Researchers studied over 10,000 people who don’t exercise much and found that those with poor health habits get kidney stones much more often. The study looked at two main problems: unhealthy metabolism (like high blood sugar and obesity) and bad lifestyle choices (like not moving around, smoking, and eating poorly). People with both problems together had nearly three times the risk of kidney stones compared to those with healthier habits. The good news? These are things you can actually change to protect your kidneys.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether unhealthy metabolism and bad lifestyle habits together increase the chances of getting kidney stones in people who sit a lot
  • Who participated: 10,801 adults over 20 years old from across the United States who don’t exercise regularly, studied between 2007 and 2018
  • Key finding: People with both poor metabolic health and unhealthy lifestyle habits had almost 4 times higher risk of kidney stones compared to those with better habits. Even just having one of these problems increased risk significantly.
  • What it means for you: If you’re sedentary, improving your diet, exercise habits, and managing conditions like high blood pressure or high blood sugar could meaningfully reduce your kidney stone risk. The combination of improvements appears more powerful than fixing just one thing.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers looked at a large group of people at one point in time and compared those with kidney stones to those without. They used data from a major U.S. government health survey (NHANES) that tracks Americans’ health and eating habits. Researchers measured metabolic health using body measurements, blood tests, and medical history to check for four problems: belly fat, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol levels. They also asked people about their lifestyle through questionnaires, including how much they exercise, whether they smoke or drink, and what they eat. Then they used statistical methods to figure out which combinations of these factors were most connected to kidney stone risk.

This approach is important because kidney stones are very common and painful, especially in people who don’t move around much. By studying a large, representative group of Americans rather than just people in a hospital, researchers can see what really happens in everyday life. Looking at both metabolic health and lifestyle together—rather than separately—gives a more complete picture of what causes kidney stones.

This study used a nationally representative sample, which means the findings likely apply to many Americans. However, because it’s cross-sectional, we can see that these factors are connected to kidney stones, but we can’t prove that one causes the other. People reported their own health information, which could have errors. The study focused on sedentary people, so results may not apply to active individuals.

What the Results Show

About 9 out of every 100 people in the study had experienced kidney stones. When researchers looked at metabolic health alone, people with the worst metabolic status had 2.3 times higher risk of kidney stones. When they looked at lifestyle alone, people with the worst habits had 1.8 times higher risk. But here’s the important part: when people had both poor metabolic health AND bad lifestyle habits, their risk jumped to nearly 4 times higher than people with good habits in both areas.

The risk increased gradually as people accumulated more problems. People with no metabolic issues had only a 4.4% chance of kidney stones, but those with all four metabolic problems had a 15.6% chance. Similarly, people with no unhealthy lifestyle factors had an 8% chance, while those with multiple bad habits had a 15.4% chance.

This shows that the problems add up together—it’s not just about having one bad habit or one health condition, but about how they combine to increase risk. The study suggests that fixing both areas at the same time might be more effective than focusing on just one.

The research found that each individual metabolic problem (obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol) was separately connected to kidney stone risk. Similarly, each lifestyle factor studied—physical inactivity, smoking or drinking, and poor diet—was individually associated with higher kidney stone risk. This suggests that there isn’t just one culprit, but rather multiple factors working together.

Previous research has shown that diet and sitting too much are risk factors for kidney stones, but this study is one of the first to look at how metabolic health and lifestyle work together in a large, representative population. It builds on earlier work by showing that the combination is more powerful than any single factor alone, which is an important insight for prevention.

This study shows connections between habits and kidney stones, but can’t prove that bad habits cause kidney stones—only that they’re linked. People reported their own health information from memory, which could be inaccurate. The study only looked at sedentary people, so we don’t know if the same patterns apply to active individuals. Also, the study was done at one point in time, so we can’t see how changes over time affect kidney stone risk.

The Bottom Line

If you’re sedentary and have metabolic health issues or unhealthy lifestyle habits, making changes in both areas appears to offer the best protection against kidney stones. Start with manageable changes like increasing water intake, improving diet quality, and gradually increasing physical activity. If you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or high cholesterol, work with your doctor to manage these conditions. These recommendations are supported by this research, though more studies are needed to confirm the best prevention strategies. (Moderate confidence level)

This research is most relevant to people who are sedentary (don’t exercise much) and have metabolic health issues like obesity, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar. It’s also important for anyone with a family history of kidney stones. People who are very active may have different risk patterns. If you’ve had kidney stones before, this research suggests that addressing both your metabolic health and lifestyle could help prevent future stones.

Kidney stone prevention is a long-term process. You might see improvements in metabolic markers like blood pressure or blood sugar within weeks to months of lifestyle changes, but preventing kidney stones may take several months to years of consistent healthy habits. The risk reduction appears to build gradually as you improve multiple factors.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track three daily metrics: water intake (aim for 8+ glasses), minutes of physical activity (start with 10-15 minute walks), and meals with vegetables or whole grains. Monitor these weekly to see patterns and celebrate improvements.
  • Set a specific, achievable goal like ‘I will take a 15-minute walk three times this week’ or ‘I will drink 2 extra glasses of water daily.’ Use the app to log these activities and get reminders. Also track any metabolic health measurements (blood pressure, blood sugar if diabetic) to see how lifestyle changes affect these numbers.
  • Check in monthly on your progress with physical activity, diet quality, and water intake. If you have metabolic health conditions, track how your numbers improve over time. Share results with your doctor to adjust your prevention plan. The app can send reminders for health appointments and help you notice patterns between your habits and how you feel.

This research shows connections between lifestyle factors and kidney stone risk in sedentary populations, but cannot prove that one causes the other. The findings are based on people’s self-reported information and apply specifically to people who don’t exercise much. If you have a history of kidney stones, metabolic health conditions, or are concerned about kidney stone risk, consult with your healthcare provider before making significant lifestyle changes. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health.