Researchers have found a correlation in women between obesity and Barrett’s esophagus, a condition that comes from excess acid reflux damage to the esophagus.
The condition is common among men who are overweight or obese and can be a precursor to esophageal cancer. But, Dr. Brian Jacobson of Boston University Medical Center recently told Reuters Health that if a woman is obese, not just overweight, she also risks developing this condition.
The study included data on more than 15,000 women who had an endoscopy in the gastrointestinal region, for any reason, between 1986 and 2004. According to the findings, the biggest risk for Barrett’s esophagus was found among women who classified as obese.
Researchers are still searching for an explanation, and Dr. Jacobson said he and his team want to see whether significant weight loss can reduce a woman’s chances of developing Barrett’s esophagus.
