BMI Raises Reflux Risk

Increasing body mass index (BMI) raises the risk of gastroesophageal reflux in women, even among those in a normal weight range, according to a survey of 10,545 participants in the Nurses' Health Study.

Participants were asked about symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, which were compared with the results of BMI calculated when they enrolled in the study. Researchers found a direct relationship between rising BMI and gastroesophageal reflux—as BMI increases, so do symptoms of reflux. Women at the low end of normal BMI range were 30% less likely to have gastroesophageal reflux, while those with a BMI ≥25 were twice as likely or more to suffer the disorder.

Even within the normal weight ranges, an increase in BMI of ≥3.5 nearly tripled the increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux. “Even moderate weight gain among persons of normal weight may cause or exacerbate symptoms of reflux,” the researchers conclude.

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