Physical activity, obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease in the general population

Table 1 Characteristics of 4910 study participants, randomly selected from the Swedish general population, and stratified into normal weight n (%)¹

	BMI < 25 (kg/m2)	BMI 25 to ≤30 (kg/m2)	BMI > 30 (kg/m2)
Gender	2146 (46)	1859 (40)	680 (15)
Male	885 (41)	1110 (60)	340 (50)
Female	1261 (59)	749 (40)	340 (50)
Age
(yr) (mean ± SD)	58 ± 10	57 ± 11	59 ± 10
Years of formal education
≤ 9	628 (29)	682 (37)	295 (43)
10-12	798 (37)	550 (30)	204 (30)
> 12	653 (30)	585 (31)	163 (24)
No. of diseases
None	1226 (57)	810 (44)	225 (33)
1	546 (25)	553 (30)	193 (28)
2	228 (11)	269 (14)	118 (17)
At least 3	146 (7)	227 (12)	144 (21)
Sleeping problems
Not at all	1295 (60)	1159 (62)	383 (56)
A little	545 (25)	467 (25)	168 (25)
Quite a bit	214 (10)	163 (9)	89 (13)
Very much	69 (3)	52 (3)	33 (5)
Current tobacco smoking
No	1762 (82)	1576 (85)	584 (86)
Yes	384 (18)	282 (15)	96 (14)
Physical activity2
Low	446 (21)	495 (27)	219 (32)
Intermediate	432 (20)	473 (25)	176 (26)
High	1236 (58)	869 (47)	265 (39)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease3
No	2009 (94)	1668 (90)	569 (84)
Yes	137 (6)	190 (10)	111 (16)

¹Two hundred and twenty-six persons had missing information about body mass index. Percentages not adding up to 100 are explained by missing data in some variables;

²Low: 1-3 times per month or less often; Intermediate: approximately once per week; and High: several times per week;

³Definition of GERD[19]: heartburn or regurgitation occurring at least once a week and at least having intermediate problems from heartburn or regurgitation. Persons reporting use of medications for heartburn or regurgitation at least once weekly were also included in the group fulfilling the criteria for GERD, irrespective of their severity of the problem. GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Table 2 Association between frequency of physical exercise and occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease

	Risk of GERD1
	Normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2)			Overweight (BMI 25 to ≤30 kg/m2)			Obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2)
	n = 2146 (46%)			n = 1859 (40%)			n = 680 (15%)
	OR (95% CI)2	P value	n (%)	OR (95% CI)2	P value	n (%)	OR (95% CI)2	P value
Physical activity3
Low	Reference		495 (27)	Reference		219 (33)	Reference
Intermediate	1.30 (0.75-2.26)	0.35	869 (47)	0.74 (0.46-1.22)	0.24	176 (27)	0.41 (0.22-0.77)	0.01
High	0.99 (0.62-1.60)	0.98	473 (25)	1.34 (0.90-2.00)	0.15	265 (40)	0.83 (0.50-1.35)	0.45

¹Definition of GERD[19]: Self-reported heartburn or regurgitation occurring at least once a week and at least having moderate problems from heartburn or regurgitation. Persons reporting use of medications for heartburn or regurgitation at least once weekly were also included in the group fulfilling the criteria for GERD, irrespective of their severity of the problem;

²Adjusted for gender, age, education level, number of diseases, sleeping problems and tobacco smoking;

³Low = 1-3 times per month or less often, Intermediate = approximately once per week, and High = several times per week. Association between frequency of physical exercise and occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in normal weight people in a random sample of 4910 people from the Swedish general population (226 participants had missing information on BMI). Presented as OR: with 95% CI. GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease; BMI: Body mass index; CI: Confidence interval; OR: Odds ratio.