[Evaluation of gastric motility in obesity]

There are conflicting information about differences of gastric emptying rate between lean and obese subjects and lack of information concerning antral motility in both groups. It has been suggested that obesity is associated with an altered rate of gastric emptying, but the results of earlier studies examining gastric emptying rates in obesity have proved inconsistent.

The purpose of this study was to compare gastric emptying rate and antral motility in obese and lean subjects.

Gastric antral motility and gastric emptying were measured after consumption of sweet omelette in 2 groups of patients: 10 obese (BMI mean = 33.18) and 10 lean subjects (BMI mean = 22.16) using a scintigraphic technique. Lag phase was assessed by physiologic and mathematic approach. Gastric area was calculated using a computer programme (Diacam-Siemens).

There was no difference in gastric emptying profiles; the mean gastric contents after 2 hours of assessment in obese and lean groups was 69% and 71.6%, respectively. Gastric antral motility parameters such as contraction amplitude and frequency, relaxation and contraction time were not differing between the groups. Only in the 90th minute of the assessment a significant difference in contraction time was found. There were also no differences in gastric area and duration of lag phase. No significant correlation between height, BMI, gastric area and body area was found in both groups.

There are no differences in the rate of gastric emptying and gastric antral motility between lean and obese subjects. No correlation between BMI, height, body area and gastric area was found. This findings deny the common opinion suggesting that obese people have bigger stomach which empties more rapidly than in lean subjects.