Being obese increases the risk of developing gastro-esophageal reflux disease (known as GERD), in which stomach acid seeps into the esophagus, according to a new report.

“There is credible evidence to incriminate obesity in yet another set of diseases,” said Dr. Hashem B. El-Serag. “Obesity was found to increase the risk of GERD symptoms, erosive esophagitis, as well as esophageal cancer by approximately two-fold.”

El-Serag, from the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, and colleagues conducted an extensive review of previous research reports and six of nine studies revealed a statistically significant association between obesity and GERD.

Compared with being normal weight, being overweight increased the odds of having GERD symptoms by 50 percent, whereas being obese doubled the odds, the researchers report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

In six studies investigating an association between obesity and erosive esophagitis - severe damage to the lining of the esophagus - the pooled results demonstrated a 76 percent increased risk for this condition.

Seven studies, when pooled, showed a two-fold increase in the risk of esophageal cancer among people who were overweight or heavier, the researchers note.

“Although there is little information on whether losing weight will reverse the risk of these complications, it is very likely that staying within normal weight helps reduce the risk of GERD,” El-Serag said.

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, August 2, 2005.