Obesity, Gallbladder, and Gastrointestinal Diseases

Obesity is directly responsible for many gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases (e.g., nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases [NAFLD]) or it is a significant risk factor interacting with other mechanisms, as occurs in reflux esophagitis and gallstones. The presence of associated risk factors may lead to earlier presentation or complicated diseases. Increased odds ratios or relative risks have been documented for several complications of obesity affecting the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD], esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and adenocarcinoma); stomach (erosive gastritis, cancer); intestinal diseases causing diarrhea (including bile acid diarrhea); colon (diverticular disease, polyps, and cancer); liver (NAFLD, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma); and the pancreaticobiliary axis (gallstones, acute pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer).