title: Prevalence and relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms among individuals of different body mass index: A population-based study.
abstract: Obesity has been identified as a potential risk factor for gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, although the data from community samples remain sparse. We assess the associations between GI symptoms and obesity in a population-based sample of Australian adults.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of 26 GI symptoms was determined by a validated postal questionnaire which was sent to 5000 randomly selected residents. The response rate was 60%. GI symptoms were classified into six broader symptom groups based on the Rome II Criteria - abdominal pain, esophageal symptoms, dysmotility symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Obesity was defined according to body mass index using self-reported height and weight.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of obesity (BMI≥30kg/m(2)) was 25.1%; 36.1% were overweight. There were significant and positive univariate associations between obesity and abdominal pain (OR=1.75; 95% CI: 1.39-2.21), esophageal symptoms (OR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.36-2.22), dysmotility symptoms (OR=1.43; 95% CI: 1.16-1.77) and diarrhea (OR=2.01; 95% CI: 1.65-2.45). The adjustment for socioeconomic characteristics and eating behaviors had minimal effect on the associations for abdominal pain (OR=1.34; 95% CI: 1.01-1.79), esophageal symptoms (OR=1.35; 95% CI: 1.03-1.78), and diarrhea (OR=1.86; 95% CI: 1.49-2.31); however, the association between obesity and dysmotility symptoms became non-significant. Obesity was not related to constipation.
  
  
  
  Obesity is an independent risk factor for abdominal pain, esophageal symptoms and diarrhea, but is not associated with dysmotility symptoms or constipation.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: eslickg@med.usyd.edu.au.
authors.forename: Guy D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Eslick
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Talley
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Abdominal pain; Diarrhea; Gastrointestinal symptoms; Obesity; Population-based study