The Association between Childhood Overweight and Reflux Esophagitis

Background. In adults, it has been shown that obesity is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and GERD-related complications. There are sparse pediatric data demonstrating associations between childhood overweight and GERD. Objective. To investigate the association between childhoo...

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Main Authors: Nirav R. Patel, Mary J. Ward, Debra Beneck, Susanna Cunningham-Rundles, Aeri Moon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:Journal of Obesity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/136909
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author Nirav R. Patel
Mary J. Ward
Debra Beneck
Susanna Cunningham-Rundles
Aeri Moon
author_facet Nirav R. Patel
Mary J. Ward
Debra Beneck
Susanna Cunningham-Rundles
Aeri Moon
author_sort Nirav R. Patel
collection DOAJ
description Background. In adults, it has been shown that obesity is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and GERD-related complications. There are sparse pediatric data demonstrating associations between childhood overweight and GERD. Objective. To investigate the association between childhood overweight and RE. Methods. We performed a retrospective chart review of 230 children (M : F=114 : 116) who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsies between January 2000 and April 2006. Patient demographics, weight, height, clinical indications for the procedure, the prevalence of BMI classification groups, the prevalence of RE and usage of anti-reflux medications were reviewed. For these analyses, the overweight group was defined to include subjects with BMI≥ 85th percentile. The normal weight group was defined to include subjects with BMI 5th to 85th percentile. Results. Among the 230 subjects, 67 (29.1%) had BMI percentiles above the 85th percentile for age and gender. The prevalence of RE in the overweight group did not differ significantly from that in the normal weight group (23.9% versus 24.5%, resp.). Overweight subjects taking anti-reflux medications clearly demonstrated a higher prevalence of biopsy-proven RE compared to overweight subjects not taking anti-reflux medications (34.1% versus 7.7%, 𝑃=.009). Conclusions. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of biopsy-proven RE in the overweight group compared to the normal weight group. However, the prevalence of RE was significantly higher in overweight subjects on anti-reflux medications compared to overweight subjects not taking anti-reflux medications. This finding emphasizes the importance of early recognition and treatment of GERD for the overweight pediatric patients with symptoms in conjunction with weight loss program for this population to reduce long-term morbidities associated with GERD.
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spelling doaj-art-b2ba2530b4ea4f26b6145fe9002d9b4f2025-08-20T03:39:21ZengWileyJournal of Obesity2090-07082090-07162010-01-01201010.1155/2010/136909136909The Association between Childhood Overweight and Reflux EsophagitisNirav R. Patel0Mary J. Ward1Debra Beneck2Susanna Cunningham-Rundles3Aeri Moon4Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USADivision of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USADepartment of Pathology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USADivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USADivision of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USABackground. In adults, it has been shown that obesity is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and GERD-related complications. There are sparse pediatric data demonstrating associations between childhood overweight and GERD. Objective. To investigate the association between childhood overweight and RE. Methods. We performed a retrospective chart review of 230 children (M : F=114 : 116) who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsies between January 2000 and April 2006. Patient demographics, weight, height, clinical indications for the procedure, the prevalence of BMI classification groups, the prevalence of RE and usage of anti-reflux medications were reviewed. For these analyses, the overweight group was defined to include subjects with BMI≥ 85th percentile. The normal weight group was defined to include subjects with BMI 5th to 85th percentile. Results. Among the 230 subjects, 67 (29.1%) had BMI percentiles above the 85th percentile for age and gender. The prevalence of RE in the overweight group did not differ significantly from that in the normal weight group (23.9% versus 24.5%, resp.). Overweight subjects taking anti-reflux medications clearly demonstrated a higher prevalence of biopsy-proven RE compared to overweight subjects not taking anti-reflux medications (34.1% versus 7.7%, 𝑃=.009). Conclusions. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of biopsy-proven RE in the overweight group compared to the normal weight group. However, the prevalence of RE was significantly higher in overweight subjects on anti-reflux medications compared to overweight subjects not taking anti-reflux medications. This finding emphasizes the importance of early recognition and treatment of GERD for the overweight pediatric patients with symptoms in conjunction with weight loss program for this population to reduce long-term morbidities associated with GERD.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/136909
spellingShingle Nirav R. Patel
Mary J. Ward
Debra Beneck
Susanna Cunningham-Rundles
Aeri Moon
The Association between Childhood Overweight and Reflux Esophagitis
Journal of Obesity
title The Association between Childhood Overweight and Reflux Esophagitis
title_full The Association between Childhood Overweight and Reflux Esophagitis
title_fullStr The Association between Childhood Overweight and Reflux Esophagitis
title_full_unstemmed The Association between Childhood Overweight and Reflux Esophagitis
title_short The Association between Childhood Overweight and Reflux Esophagitis
title_sort association between childhood overweight and reflux esophagitis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/136909
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