Published online Dec 21, 2020. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i47.7528
Peer-review started: September 30, 2020
First decision: November 13, 2020
Revised: November 18, 2020
Accepted: November 29, 2020
Article in press: November 29, 2020
Published online: December 21, 2020
In recent years, an increasing prevalence of obesity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been observed.
To investigate the relationship between obesity and IBD.
To evaluate the prevalence of obesity in IBD and associated factors.
We collected data about IBD disease pattern and activity, drugs and laboratory investigations in our center. Anthropometric measures were retrieved and obesity defined as a body mass index (BMI) > 30. Then, we compared characteristics of obese vs non obese patients, and Chi-squared test and Student’s t test were used for discrete and continuous variables, respectively, at univariate analysis. For multivariate analysis, we used binomial logistic regression and estimated odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals to ascertain factors associated with obesity.
The prevalence of obesity was 6.9% in IBD and 7.9% in controls (not statistically different; P = 0.38). Obese IBD were older than normal weight ones. IBD onset age was earlier in obese population. Obese subjects had consumed more frequently long course of systemic steroids as well as antibiotics such as metronidazole or ciprofloxacin. Obese IBD patients suffered more frequently from arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. On multivariate analysis, however, the only factor that appeared to be independently linked to obesity in IBD was the high abdominal circumference.
Obese IBD patients seem to have features similar to general obese population, and there is no disease-specific factor (disease activity, extension or therapy) that may foster obesity in IBD.
Dietary interventions to explore whether BMI variation may have some benefit on IBD course are warranted.