The Epidemiology of Obesity and Gastrointestinal and Other Diseases: An Overview

Abstract

The worldwide prevalence of obesity continues to increase, with devastating implications for overall health. Epidemiological trends indicate the primary contributors are environmental (e.g., increased caloric intake, lack of exercise), although the evidence is surprisingly equivocal. Increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increase in all-cause mortality and in diseases related to this increasing mortality rate, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, including those of the gastrointestinal system. Some of these associations are even more pronounced when obesity is measured by waist-to-hip ratio, a marker of visceral adipose tissue, versus BMI. Higher BMI is related to increased risk of developing gall stones, and obese patients experience GI symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea, more often compared with those of normal body mass. Although the exact cause remains uncertain, these symptoms may be connected to eating habits or to changes in gastrointestinal motility.

Gastrointestinal Complications of Obesity

“…57 A population-based survey study of 2660 people showed that the prevalence of diarrhea in obese individuals was 30% compared with 17% in normal-weight controls (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1–6.8). 38 Similar studies have been replicated in Australia and New Zealand.…”

Functional Importance of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for the Lower Esophageal Sphincter in Patients with Morbid Obesity

“…Previous studies performed in the USA showed more than one-third of adults having a BMI≥30 kg/m² [2]. At present, obesity is one of the most chronic diseases, with a reduced quality of life and a high risk for morbidity and mortality [3,4]. Almost 45% of morbidly obese patients suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) [5,6].…”

Lack of association between body mass index and plasma adiponectin levels in healthy adults

“…1 With the industrialization, obesity is becoming a large health burden because of its association with the risk for disorders such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, and eventually atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. [2][3][4][5][6][7] Although the risk is well established, the mechanisms leading to the risk are not clear. A change in the plasma adipokine profile in obese individuals, such as the levels of adiponectin and the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-a (TNFa) and interleukin (IL)-6, was proposed to be a contributing factor.…”