Unravelling the Relationship Between Obesity and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Mirroring the global obesity epidemic, obesity rates in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is rising. Several epidemiological studies propose that 15%-40% of adult patients with IBD are obese, and an additional 25%-40% fall into the overweight category. This article examines the pathophysiologic relationship between obesity and IBD concerning the role of visceral adipose tissue, microbiota shifts, dietary patterns, and hunger hormone changes. Additionally, increasing evidence is demonstrating the negative impact that obesity is having on disease course and quality of life in patients with IBD. Obesity has been demonstrated to be associated with an attenuated response to immunomodulators and biological agents, as well as higher rates of peri-operative surgical complications. A better understanding of the relationship between obesity and IBD can be applied to clinical decision-making in personalizing treatment plans, promoting weight loss in patients with obesity, and identifying areas of future research.