Open AccessExcess Body Weight and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Author(s) -
Andreas Thalheimer,
Marco Bueter
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
visceral medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.598
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 2297-475X
pISSN - 2297-4725
DOI - 10.1159/000516050
Subject(s) - gerd , reflux , gastroenterology , medicine , weight loss , esophagus , pathophysiology , obesity , esophagogastric junction , disease , incidence (geometry) , cancer , adenocarcinoma , physics , optics
Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is strongly associated with excess body weight. Summary: GERD is characterized by typical symptoms with or without mucosal damage because of retrograde flow of gastric content into the esophagus. An ineffective esophagogastric junction (EGJ) combined with anatomical abnormalities is considered to be causative. The incidence of GERD is strongly associated with excess body weight, reflecting the pathophysiological relevance of the abdominothoracic pressure gradient. Key Message: Weight loss has been demonstrated to be an effective therapy for GERD combined with obesity. In cases in which surgical therapy is indicated, traditional antireflux surgery has led to equivocal results, advocating a proximal Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in these patients to correct both GERD and excess body weight.