Burn it, melt it, or shed it away.
One acid reflux cause rules all others.
Carrying this cause increases your risk of acid reflux by 22.63% – burn, melt or shed it and… you do the math.
This is according to a new study published in MedEspera.
The main goal of the study was to find out whether being overweight or obese worsened GERD. The researchers also wanted to uncover how exactly obesity contributes to more severe GERD symptoms and how this impacts people’s lives from day to day.
To investigate, they looked at research published between 2020 and 2023 in some of the largest medical journal databases. They focused on articles that explored the relationship between GERD, obesity, and quality of life.
They also analyzed 100 SF-36 questionnaires, which measure different aspects of health and well-being, like physical functioning, pain, vitality, and social and mental health.
The scientists found what they thought they might, that a higher body mass index (BMI) increases the likelihood of developing GERD and makes symptoms more intense.
Most importantly, GERD was least common in people with a BMI of 18.5, affecting about 6.64% of these participants.
On the other hand, people with a BMI of 30 or higher were much more likely to have GERD, with a whopping 22.63% dealing with the condition.
There are a few reasons why obesity worsens GERD.
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1. Extra weight, especially around the abdomen, puts more pressure on the stomach. This pressure makes it more likely for stomach acid to push up into the esophagus.
2. Normally, the lower esophageal sphincter acts like a door, opening for food to go downward but otherwise staying closed to keep stomach acid down where it belongs. In people with obesity, this “door” can become weak or relax too often, allowing acid to escape.
If you’re overweight, I’m sure you have tried to lose weight… it’s difficult. Or you’re slim and still suffer acid reflux – either way, what should you do?