[Scintigraphic study of gastric emptying in children with common obesity]

Quantitative gastric emptying essay by a single radio-nuclide technique (Tc99m), utilizing a fluid/solid meal, were performed in 2 groups of age-matched children: (a) 15 males with non-endocrine obesity; (b) 6 males and 3 females affected by gastroesophageal reflux, arbitrarily used as controls. Mean (+/- SD) gastric emptying rates, expressed as emptying half-time (T/2 in min) in the group a and b were superimposable (102.0 +/- 60.6 vs 97.3 +/- 43.1). Our data do not support the existence of an abnormally rapid gastric emptying rate in obesity, at least in pediatric age. This finding is even more striking if one considers that our control group was at high risk for delayed gastric emptying.