Body-Mass Index and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Women

Overweight and obese persons are at increased risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease. An association between body-mass index (BMI)--the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters - and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in persons of normal weight has not been demonstrated.

In 2000, we used a supplemental questionnaire to determine the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease among randomly selected participants in the Nurses' Health Study. After categorizing women according to BMI as measured in 1998, we used logistic-regression models to study the association between BMI and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease.