Obesity -> esophageal reflux (GERD) -> Barret’s esophagus -> esophageal cancer (Influence of Obesity on the Risk for Esophageal Disorders).
Key points of the above quoted article in Medscape.org (a continuing medical education website for physicians).
- Obesity, particularly with a predominantly abdominal distribution of fat, is associated with an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett esophagus and GERD
- Increase in BMI correlates clearly and proportionally with an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma and GERD; however, corresponding data regarding Barrett esophagus are less clear
- Body fat distribution, especially the presence of abdominal adiposity, is a factor in the link between obesity and esophageal disorders
- Molecular mechanisms involving leptin, adiponectin and estrogen have been proposed to explain the association between obesity and these esophageal conditions