09.2019
Author Prof. E. Harms, University Department of Pediatrics Münster

A prospective study conducted by an Italian working group examined the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in 103 overweight and obese children (mean age approx. 10 years, 1/3 overweight, 2/3 obese) in comparison to a normal-weight control group with a similar age and gender distribution [1]. The data to diagnose FGIDs was collected according to the standardised Rome III Diagnostic Criteria. 47.6% of the study subjects showed one or more functional disorders (control group 17.4%), of which 18.4% were constipation (control group 7.8%), functional dyspepsia (collective term) 22.3% (control group 7.0%), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 10.7% (control group 2.6%). The authors of the study consider the results to be in line with the biopsychological conceptual model for the development of FGIDs, in which food and nutritional components, the gut microbial environment, and psychosocial factors are considered to be contributing factors, all of which are also linked to the development of overweight and obesity.