Influence of obesity on the course of inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

One of the leading public health issues of the 21st century is that the prevalence of obesity worldwide has grown to epidemic proportions. The more common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suggests that obesity plays a role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Epidemiological data on this issue are still quite contradictory. Similarly, studies examining the impact that obesity may have on the natural history of the disease have yielded inconsistent results. Regardless of its impact on the pathogenesis or natural history of IBD, the growing prevalence of obesity in this population leads to the need for a better understanding of the effect it has on IBD management. The aim of this study is to review scientific publications examining the impact of obesity on the course of inflammatory bowel disease