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How weight affects
GERD
Weight Loss May Reduce GERD
Problems
August 17, 2005
Being overweight can contribute to symptoms of
gastroesophageal reflux disorder, commonly known
as GERD, according to a report in the Annals of
Internal Medicine.
After a review of several
studies, investigators found that excess weight
nearly doubled the risk of GERD symptoms such as
heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest pain, and
difficulty swallowing.
People who were obese, defined as a body mass
index (BMI) greater than 30, were nearly three
times more likely to develop esophageal cancer
than those with a healthy body weight.
BMI is a measure of a person's weight in relation
to his/her height.
GERD occurs when the valve between the stomach and
the esophagus fails to close properly. As a
result, the contents in the stomach, including
stomach acid, can spill up into the esophagus,
leading to erosion of the esophagus and, in some
cases, esophageal cancer.
The results point to a way to prevent and treat
both GERD and its associated complications.
Additionally, an important next step will be to investigate
whether weight loss actually improves GERD
symptoms and complications.
Click here for more information on Obesity.
Obesity Associated with GERD
"There is credible evidence to incriminate obesity
in yet another set of diseases," he says.
"Although there is little information on whether
losing weight will reverse the risk of these
complications, it is very likely that staying [at
a] normal weight helps reduce the risk of GERD and
its complications."
Dr. David A. Johnson, professor of medicine and
chief of gastroenterology at Eastern Virginia
Medical School, agrees, noting that weight loss
has been shown to improve a number of other
medical problems.
"The causal relationship is there and it would be
suggestive that reduction in obesity and
overweight status would be helpful for lots of
reasons," Dr. Johnson notes.
The new study findings come in the context of a
steady rise in both obesity and the complications
of GERD in the US and Western Europe. Nearly
two-thirds of American adults are overweight,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
At the same time, the rate of esophageal
adenocarcinoma has quadrupled in the past 20 years
with an estimated 20 percent of US adults
suffering from GERD, the study authors report.
Abdominal Obesity a Culprit
But exactly how excess body weight increases GERD
symptoms and complications remains unclear. One
possibility is that too much weight in the abdomen
compresses the stomach and raises the pressure
inside, leading to gastric reflux.
Alternately, abdominal obesity can contribute to
the release of inflammatory substances that may
raise the risk of GERD.
Thirdly, many persons who are obese eat excessive
amounts of fat, and fatty foods can increase the
risk of GERD, explains Dr. El-Serag, assistant
professor of medicine at Baylor College of
Medicine in Houston.
The study results are based on an analysis of nine
studies conducted over 18 years. People who were
overweight, defined by a body mass index of 25 to
30, were 1.4 times as likely to develop GERD
symptoms, while people who were obese were nearly
twice as likely to develop symptoms compared to
those with a healthy body weight.
The study "adds another reason for patients to
remain a healthy weight," Dr. El-Serag says. "This
can help them avoid GERD with its associated
nuisance, treatment, and potential complications,
including cancer of the esophagus.
Always consult your physician for more
information.
Facts about Obesity
The US Surgeon General has declared that
overweight and obesity have reached epidemic
proportions in this country.
One in three US adults are overweight or obese and
15 percent of children between the ages of six and
19 are overweight.
Public health officials say physical inactivity
and poor diet are catching up to tobacco as a
significant threat to health.
Currently, about 35 percent of women and 31
percent of men are considered seriously
overweight. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease
that can inflict substantial harm to a person’s
health.
Overweight and obesity are not the same; rather,
they are different points on a continuum of weight
ranging from being underweight to being morbidly
obese.
The percentage of people who fit into these two
categories, overweight and obese, is determined by
Body Mass Index (BMI).
BMI is a measure of weight proportionate to
height. BMI is considered a useful measurement of
the amount of body fat.
Occasionally, some very muscular people may have a
BMI in the overweight range.
However, these people are not considered
overweight because muscle tissue weighs more than
fat tissue.
Generally, BMI can be considered an effective way
to evaluate whether a person is overweight or
obese.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute (NHLBI), a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 is
considered normal while a BMI of more than 25 is
considered overweight.
A person is considered obese if the BMI is greater
than 30 and morbidly obese if the BMI is 40 or
greater.
In general, after the age of 50, a man’s weight
stabilizes and even drops slightly between the
ages of 60 and 74.
However, a woman’s weight continues to increase
until age 60 and then begins to drop.
Another measure of obesity is the waist-to-hip
ratio (WHR). The WHR is a measurement tool that
looks at the proportion of fat stored on the
waist, and hips and buttocks.
The waist circumference indicates abdominal fat.
A waist circumference over 40 inches in men and
over 35 inches in women may increase the risk for
heart disease and other diseases associated with
being overweight.
Consult your physician with questions regarding
healthy body weight.
Click here for
information on obesity and gastric bypass surgery.
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