Gastric Anatomic Type Is Associated with Obesity and Gender.

OBJECTIVE: To enhance our understanding of the associations among gastric anatomy, obesity, and gender.

METHODS: 777 randomly selected participants received health checkups, including a series of radiographs of the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGI); the findings were linked with each corresponding subject's gender and BMI. We measured the length, angle, and different portions of the stomach with the subjects in the standing position using radiographs to classify all individuals into anatomic types 1 through 6 based on gastric morphology. The gastric morphology was identified based on the initial UGI examination: 166 follow-up UGI radiographs at 12 ± 1.5 months to evaluate whether the stability of gastric anatomy persisted over time.

RESULTS: There was a significant difference in anatomic types between females and males (p < 0.001). The proportions of men with certain types (e.g., barium initially pools in a retroflexed fundus) were significantly higher than those of women; these participants were more likely to be overweight/obese (p < 0.001) compared with participants with other anatomic types. Additionally, the proportion of women with gastroptosis was significantly higher than that of men; participants with this type were less likely to be overweight/obese (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Gastric anatomic types were associated with obesity and gender.