Topic Highlight
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2013; 19(39): 6536-6539
Published online Oct 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i39.6536
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease and obesity, where is the link?
Sara Emerenziani, Maria Paola Rescio, Michele Pier Luca Guarino, Michele Cicala
Sara Emerenziani, Maria Paola Rescio, Michele Pier Luca Guarino, Michele Cicala, Unit of Digestive Disease, Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Author contributions: All the authors contributed equally to the manuscript, drafting the article and revising it critically for important intellectual content; all approved the final version for publication.
Correspondence to: Michele Cicala, MD, Professor, Unit of Digestive Disease, Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy. m.cicala@unicampus.it
Telephone: +39-6-22541560 Fax: +39-6-22541520
Received: June 26, 2013
Revised: July 29, 2013
Accepted: September 16, 2013
Published online: October 21, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: This topic is aimed to explore the potential mechanisms responsible for the association between gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obesity, that remain to be fully elucidated. Despite numerous evidence that show an increased risk of GERD symptom and/or complication in obese patients, the interplay between GERD and obesity is not clear. Based on the literature we have tried to summarize the evidence concerning the role of obesity in the GERD pathogenesis to better understand the possible role of weight loss as a therapeutic approach for this disease.