More than 1/3 of adults in the US are obese and the rates of obesity are increasing. However, relatively little is known about the prevalence of obesity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or the impact of obesity on IBD disease activity. In this study, we reviewed patients in the CCFA Partners database to better understand these issues. We found that approximately 30% of IBD patients were overweight and an additional 20% were obese. Patients who were overweight or obese were less likely to have their IBD in remission at baseline. We also found that patients who were obese (but not overweight patients) were more likely to have a relapse of their IBD within 6-12 months compared to normal weight patients. In summary, obesity appears to be relatively common amongst patients with IBD and may be a risk factor for worsened disease.

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of blood clots due to having inflammation. Other risk factors can include things like smoking, using steroids, and being overweight. Most forms of hormonal contraception (birth control pills) have estrogen which can also increase clotting risk. We studied whether people with IBD that had risk factors for clotting were also put on birth control pills. This could be an opportunity for prevention (as other birth control options are available that do not increase clotting risk). Over 3000 women with IBD completed surveys asking about birth control methods and other risk factors for clotting. Birth control pills were used in over 30% of women with IBD. Women with risk factors for clotting (smoking, steroids, obesity) still had the same rates of birth control pill use as those without these risk factors. Based on this study, it is important for GI doctors to ask patients about birth control use and find out whether they also have other risk factors for a blood clot. By changing the form of contraception, this could prevent a complication of a blood clot in the future.