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Weighing in on Your Gastrointestinal (GI) System
The weight of Canadians may be affecting more than just their waistlines. People often make the connection between being overweight and having chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, but rarely do they connect being overweight with diseases of the GI system.
 | “GI diseases are seen up to two to three times more commonly in individuals who are obese” |
The truth is there are a number of GI health issues related to being overweight or obese, for example, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Barrett ’s esophagus, erosive esophagitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cholelithiasis, pancreatitis, and cancer, particularly colorectal and esophageal. Many of the common GI diseases that are seen in individuals with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) are seen up to two to three times more commonly in individuals who are obese (American College of Gastroenterology, 2008).
To help improve your eating and physical activity habits to lose weight, try:
- Keeping a daily food and physical activity diary. Review it weekly
- to see where you can make changes.
- Telling others of your goals and ask if they can support or join you.
- Know and understand the things that cause you to gain weight or stop you from losing weight. Choose one or two that you can easily change (e.g., switch to skim milk or go for a walk at lunch) and get started.
If you are overweight and have thought about or tried to lose weight in the past, you now have another reason to succeed. Develop a plan and stick with it–your GI system is counting on you.
Risk of GI Disease Associated with Obesity
Degree of Risk with Increased Obesity (BMI of >30 in comparison to a BMI of <25) | |
Esophagus GERD symptoms Esophageal cancer |
50% 2-fold |
Gallbladder Stones Cancer
| 2-3 fold 35-85% |
Pancreas Cancer | 35-85% |
Colon Cancer | 2-fold |
Liver Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Cirrhosis Hepatocellular carcinoma (form of liver cancer) |
2-3 fold 30-50% 30-50% |
KEY REFERENCES:
American College of Gastroenterology. (2008). Obesity: A growing & dangerous public health challenge. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from http://www.gi.org/obesity/pdfs/ ACG_Obesity_Physician_Resource_Guide.pdf
