Obesity increases risk of acid reflux disease

Being obese increases the risk of developing gastro-esophageal reflux disease (known as GERD), in which the acid from the stomach seeps into the oesophagus.Researchers from the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, reviewed previous research reports, of which six studies revealed a statistically significant association between obesity and GERD. Compared with being normal weight, being overweight increased the odds of having GERD symptoms by 50 percent, whereas being obese doubled the odds.In six studies investigating an association between obesity and erosive oesophagitis - severe damage to the lining of the oesophagus - the pooled results demonstrated a 76 percent increased risk for this condition. Seven studies, when pooled, showed a two-fold increase in the risk of oesophageal cancer among people who were overweight or heavier, the researchers found.Although there is little information on whether losing weight will reverse the risk of these complications, it is very likely that staying within normal weight helps reduce the risk of GERD.