ASSOCIATION BETWEEN OBESITY AND GASTROESO PHAGEAL REFLUX

Background: There is a possible relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and overweight, that has nor been studied extensively. Aim: To study the association between overweight and gastroesophageal reflux i n a group of patients and normal controls. Subjects and methods: Body mass index of 85 patients with gastroesophageal reflux: and 100 patien ts with Barrett esophagus, was compared with that of 171 healthy contr ols. Results: There were no differences in body mass index between hea lthy subjects and patients with gastroesophageal reflux. However, ther e was a higher proportion of overweight males and obese females with B arrett esophagus than among healthy controls. Conclusions: We did not find an association between overweight aid gastroesophageal reflux, bu t patients with Barrett esophagus had a higher body mass index than no rmal controls.