Does Morbid Obesity Slow Down Digestion Of Food

If you are overweight or obese, you are at risk for several conditions that can have a negative impact on your digestion. Obesity also affects your ability to engage in regular physical activity, which can have a negative effect on your metabolic rate. Fortunately, many of the conditions associated with obesity can be reduced or avoided through weight loss, so consult your doctor about the ways in which you can come closer to your ideal weight and reduce your risk for these conditions.

Metabolic Syndrome

If you have metabolic syndrome, you have three or more disorders that affect your metabolism and slow your digestion. The Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals lists metabolic syndrome as a common problem associated with obesity, which may include diabetes mellitus, gallbladder disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. These afflictions of the pancreas, gallbladder and liver all affect your digestion, and more than one can have a serious impact on the health of your gastrointestinal tract. Other conditions associated with obesity include cirrhosis and hepatomegaly, or an enlarged liver, which also interfere with digestion.

Gallstones

Gallstones are caused when your liver produces too much cholesterol and delivers it to the bile. Bile saturated with cholesterol can form these stones, which may then block the bile duct between your gall bladder and your liver. Bile is necessary for digestion, and blocked bile ducts prevent your digestive system from receiving adequate levels. While anyone may develop gallstones, your risk is greater if you are obese. Obese women, for example, have twice the risk of developing gallstones as women who are not, and women with a BMI over 45 have seven times the risk.

Pancreatitis

The pancreas is also important for proper digestion, and its failure to work properly has an adverse effect on your ability to digest food. In pancreatitis, your pancreas loses its ability to produce digestive enzymes and insulin. Calcification may occur, resulting in pancreatic stones that affect the flow of enzymes and, in time, can damage the ducts in your pancreas and worsen the obstruction. Left untreated, pancreatitis scars your pancreas and permanently diminishes its ability to assist in digestion. Although pancreatitis can happen to anyone, obesity increases the severity of its outcomes.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

While gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, has no direct effect on your enzymes and metabolic processes, it is associated with metabolic syndrome, and it is more common among people who are obese. If you suffer from GERD, then you experience food, stomach acid or bile flowing back into your esophagus after eating, causing discomfort and irritating your esophageal lining. Over time, this irritation can lead to permanent damage of the esophagus and can interfere with your daily life. If you suffer from frequent heartburn or show other signs of GERD, consult your doctor for advice on preventing future irritations.