title: The association between obesity and GERD: a review of the epidemiological evidence.
abstract: The current epidemics of obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-related disorders have generated much interest in studying the association between them. Results of multiple studies indicate that obesity satisfies several criteria for a causal association with GERD and some of its complications, including a generally consistent association with GERD symptoms, erosive esophagitis, and esophageal adenocarcinoma. An increase in GERD symptoms has been shown to occur in individuals who gain weight but continue to have a body mass index (BMI) in the normal range, contributing to the epidemiological evidence for a possible dose-response relationship between BMI and increasing GERD. Data are less clear on the relationship between Barrett's esophagus (BE) and obesity. However, when considered separately, abdominal obesity seems to explain a considerable part of the association with GERD, including BE. Overall, epidemiological data show that maintaining a normal BMI may reduce the likelihood of developing GERD and its potential complications.
authors.affiliation: The Sections of Gastroenterology and Health Services Research, The Houston Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. hasheme@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Hashem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El-Serag
mesh_terms: D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors