Relationship between body mass index, diet, exercise and gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in a community.
BACKGROUND
Body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for gastro-oesophageal reflux but may simply be explained by diet and lifestyle.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine the contribution of BMI, diet and exercise to GER.


METHODS
Community subjects (n = 211, mean age = 36 years, 43% males) completed validated questionnaires on gastro-oesophageal reflux, energy expenditure (Harvard Alumni Activity Survey), dietary intake (Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire) and measures of personality and life event stress. Diet, exercise, BMI and other potential risk factors for reflux were analysed using logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
The overall mean (+/- s.d.) BMI was 26.6 (+/- 5.7); 79 (37%) reported infrequent (< weekly) reflux and 16 (8%) reported frequent (> or = weekly) reflux. The median caloric intake was 2097 cal/day and the median daily energy expenditure was 1753 cal/day. Among those with BMI > 25, 10% reported frequent reflux compared to 4% of those with BMI < or = 25. In a model which included age, sex and Symptom Checklist-90 somatisation T-score, BMI was associated with reflux (OR per 5 units = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.0). In models which included diet and exercise variables, BMI but not diet or exercise was associated with reflux.


CONCLUSIONS
BMI may be associated with symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux independent of diet and exercise.
Nandurkar
S
S
Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Enteric Neurosciences and Translational Epidemiological Research (CENTER) and Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Locke
G R
GR
Fett
S
S
Zinsmeister
A R
AR
Cameron
A J
AJ
Talley
N J
NJ
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors