Obesity, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Link Reviewed

THURSDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is clearly associated with the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which may be alleviated by weight loss through caloric restriction or surgery, according to a review in the August issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Frank K. Friedenberg, M.D. and colleagues from Temple University in Philadelphia, note that nearly all epidemiological studies show a correlation between increasing body mass index and symptoms of GERD. This may be due to changes in gastroesophageal anatomy and physiology caused by obesity, they suggest.

Central adiposity, as measured by the waist-to-hip ratio, may be the most important risk factor for the development of GERD and complications such as Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Weight loss through caloric restriction appears to be beneficial for reducing reflux symptoms but has been infrequently studied, and studies are primarily uncontrolled, the authors note. Bariatric surgery and its effects on obesity-related disorders have been studied more extensively.

"Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has been consistently associated with improvement in the symptoms and findings of GERD," Friedenberg and colleagues write. "Current evidence suggests that laparoscopic adjusted gastric banding should be avoided in these patients as the impact on gastroesophageal reflux disease appears unfavorable."

Abstract
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