The inflammatory bowel diseases consisting of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis have expanded into previously low incidence areas of the world. The spread follows the relatively recent pandemic of global obesity. Pathological relations have been proposed between these two diseases. Both inflammatory bowel diseases and obesity originated in wealthier western societies marked by high gross domestic product per capita. The pathogenic influence of national wealth on the inflammatory bowel diseases has been recognized but are less clear with obesity. Parallel correlations of national wealth with obesity would further strengthen relations between these two diseases. Alternatively, diverging relations could suggest that obesity is less dependent on wealth. As such it would supports another earlier hypothesis that obesity depends on adoption of western diet which precedes national acquisition of wealth.
NSTL
Elsevier