Gastrointestinal morbidity in obesity

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2014 Apr:1311:42-56. doi: 10.1111/nyas.12385. Epub 2014 Mar 6.

Abstract

Obesity is a complex disease that results from increased energy intake and decreased energy expenditure. The gastrointestinal system plays a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity and facilitates caloric imbalance. Changes in gastrointestinal hormones and the inhibition of mechanisms that curtail caloric intake result in weight gain. It is not clear if the gastrointestinal role in obesity is a cause or an effect of this disease. Obesity is often associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obesity is also associated with gastrointestinal disorders, which are more frequent and present earlier than T2DM and CVD. Diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cholelithiasis, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis are directly related to body weight and abdominal adiposity. Our objective is to assess the role of each gastrointestinal organ in obesity and the gastrointestinal morbidity resulting in those organs from the effects of obesity.

Keywords: GERD; appetite; cancer; diarrhea; gastrointestinal; obesity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Body Weight / physiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / complications
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology
  • Energy Intake / physiology*
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / complications
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / physiopathology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Obesity / physiopathology*
  • Satiety Response / physiology*