Dietary weight loss intervention provides improvement of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms —A randomized clinical trial

SummaryTo evaluate the effect of dietary interventions aimed at weight loss in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and general health-related quality of life (HRQL) in overweight and obese patients. A population of GERD patients were randomized into two groups: the intervention group received individualized dietary counselling on scheduled appointments throughout 6  months of follow-up (n = 31) and the control group received only informative dietary guidelines on baseline (n = 31). Anthropometric data were monthly collected, and the HRQL score for GERD (GERD-HRQL) and the Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires were applied on baseline and reevaluated at the end of follow-up. Dietary intervention led to an average weight loss of 4.4 kg (±5.3) and an average BMI reduct ion of 1.7 kg/m2 ( ±2.9) compared to an increase in weight of 2.1 kg (±4.4) (p <  .001) and an increase in BMI of 1.3 (±6.3) (p = 0.023) in the control group. Individuals in the intervention group had a mean decrease in symptoms of 6.8 (±5.5) points while the control group had worsening of their symptoms with an increase of 3.3 (±4) points (p <  .001) in the disease-specific questionnaire. There was a positive association between weight loss and reduction of symptoms as measured by the GERD-HRQL score (r = .49;p <  .001). Dietary intervention for 6 months with an individualized low-calorie diet program produces weight loss and a significant improvement in GERD-rel...
Source: Clinical Obesity - Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research