Clinical features and food preferences in persons with irritable bowel syndrome against the background of overweight and obesity

Abstract

Aim. To identify the clinical features of the course and nutritional preferences of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) against the background of overweight and obesity in order to increase the effectiveness of therapy in this cohort of patients. Materials and methods. An open cohort cross-sectional study was conducted with the inclusion of 100 patients aged 18 to 44 years (mean age 30.636.37 years) with an established diagnosis of IBS. The main group included 50 overweight or obese people with IBS (mean age 31.675.99 years, BMI 31.314.16 kg/m2), among them: 16 men and 34 women. The comparison group included 50 people with normal weight (mean age 31.946.15 years, BMI 20.451.54 kg/m2), among them: 16 men and 34 women. IBS symptoms were assessed on a 10-point scale. Assessment of other gastroenterological complaints was carried out using a 4-point scale. The severity of anxiety and depression was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The level of specific anxiety in relation to gastrointestinal symptoms was assessed using the VSI visceral sensitivity index. To assess the quality of life, a specific questionnaire for assessing the quality of life of patients with IBS IBS-QoL and a nonspecific questionnaire for assessing the quality of life SF-36 were used. Results. IBS patients who are overweight or obese are characterized by a more severe course of the disease, more frequent formation of a mixed variant of stool disorders and a tendency to constipation, a more common clinically pronounced anxiety and depression, a more pronounced abdominal pain syndrome and a low level of quality of life, and as well as specific food preferences. Conclusion. Studies are required to identify the relationship between the clinical features of the course of IBS and food preferences in overweight and obese individuals with leading pathogenetic mechanisms in order to correct the existing standard management regimens for overweight and obese patients suffering from IBS.

Keywords

• irritable bowel syndrome
• obesity
• symptoms
• clinical features
• eating habits
• food preferences