Obesity and novel management of inflammatory bowel disease

Jee Hyun Kim1, Chang-Myung Oh2, Jun Hwan Yoo1,3

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam 13496, South Korea.

Obesity is prevalent within the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population, particularly in newly developed countries. Several epidemiological studies have suggested that 15%-40% of IBD patients are obese, and there is a potential role of obesity in the pathogenesis of IBD. The dysfunction of mesenteric fat worsens the inflammatory course of Crohn's disease and may induce formation of strictures or fistulas. Furthermore, obesity may affect the disease course or treatment response of IBD. Given the increasing data supporting the pathophysiologic and epidemiologic relationship between obesity and IBD, obesity control is being suggested as a novel management for IBD. Therefore, this review aimed to describe the influence of obesity on the outcomes of IBD treatment and to present the current status of pharmacologic or surgical anti-obesity treatments in IBD patients.

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