Heartburn/GERD Health Center

Study: Acid Reflux on the Rise

Not All GERD Patients Overweight continued...

Many are overweight and have eating habits that go hand-in-hand with acid reflux, but others are not overweight and are very careful to eat well.

“This is not just a disease of older people and people who are overweight,” Starpoli says. “I have many young patients whose weight is normal and they still have terrible reflux.”

In addition to weight loss, lifestyle factors that can improve acid reflux include:

• Avoid large meals before bedtime. Eating meals at least two to three hours before lying down will give food time to empty from the stomach before bed.
• Avoid overeating. Eating four to five small meals is better than three large ones for avoiding heartburn and reflux.
• Avoid personal heartburn triggers. For some people it might be chocolate and caffeine. For others it might be fruit juices or high-fat foods.
• Stop smoking and avoid alcohol.