California Study: Extreme Obesity in Children Increases Esophagus Reflux Risk by 40 Percent
Children who are extremely obese have a 40 percent greater likelihood of developing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) than normal-weight children, according to a large-scale study completed earlier this year by managed-care insuror Kaiser Permanente of Oakland, California. Additional findings showed that moderately obese children run a 30 percent greater risk than normal children. The International Journal of Pediatric Obesity has published the study online.
These results reveal a childhood obesity/GERD correlation that had already been shown in adults. The Kaiser study analyzed the computerized health records of a cross-section of over 690,000 children, aged 2-19 years, enrolled in the company’s Southern California Integrated Health Plan during 2007-08.
Frequent symptoms of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease – the flow of stomach contents upward into the esophagus – may affect 8 to 20 percent of US children, varying with age and body mass index. The esophagus can become inflamed, and GERD can contribute to asthma, chronic coughs, and inflammation of the larynx or voicebox. If gastroesophageal reflux isn’t treated, the inflammation develops into permanent damage to the esophagus’ lining.
There is a strong relationship between GERD and esophageal cancer, the fastest growing cancer in the Western world. Although other forms of cancer are declining in frequency, esophageal cancer is expected to double in the next two decades, and many researchers suspect a relationship with the current epidemic of obesity.
If you need a nutritionist in helping your child lose weight and prevent or overcome acid reflux call me at 201.618.3534 for a no charge phone consult.
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