Background: Incidence rates of both obesity and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are increasing, particularly in the Western world. It has been suggested that GERD symptoms may be improved by weight reduction.
Aim: To review the literature on the effect of various weight reducing modalities on manifestations of GERD in obese patients.
Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library, combining the words obesity and gastro-oesophageal reflux with bariatric surgery, diet, lifestyle intervention and weight loss.
Results: With regard to diet/lifestyle intervention (conservative), four of seven studies reported an improvement of GERD. For Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a positive effect on GERD was found in all studies, although this was mainly evaluated by questionnaires. In contrast, for vertical banded gastroplasty, no change or even an increase of GERD was noted, whereas the results for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding were conflicting.
Conclusions: Dietary and lifestyle intervention may improve GERD in obese patients; however, the most favourable effect is likely to be found after bariatric surgery, especially after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Future studies need to elucidate for which GERD patients laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding might have a beneficial effect and how they can be identified preoperatively.