A Comprehensive Systematic Review of The Relationship Between Obesity and The Prevalence of Dyspepsia
Abstract
Introduction: The parallel rise in global obesity rates and the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders, particularly dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), presents a significant public health challenge. Understanding the nature and strength of this association is crucial for effective clinical management and public health strategies (Eslick, 2012; Mahadeva, 2023). Methods: A comprehensive review was conducted by screening studies from multiple databases. Studies were included if they investigated the obesity-dyspepsia association as a primary objective, used validated measures for both obesity (e.g., BMI, waist circumference) and dyspepsia (e.g., Rome criteria, clinical diagnosis), involved adult populations, and reported quantitative data. Data on study characteristics, obesity measures, dyspepsia definitions, population demographics, association findings, proposed mechanisms, and limitations were systematically extracted from 59 included sources. Results: The evidence demonstrates a consistent positive association between obesity—particularly central adiposity—and dyspepsia/GERD. Meta-analyses show overweight individuals (BMI 25-30 kg/m²) have an odds ratio (OR) of 1.43-1.60 for GERD, rising to 1.94-2.15 for those with obesity (BMI >30 kg/m²) (Hampel, Abraham, & El‐Serag, 2005; Corley & Kubo, 2006; Cai et al., 2012). Central obesity measures like waist circumference show even stronger correlations (Zhan et al., 2021). However, findings are…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
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