Overweight women are more likely to suffer from acid reflux than other women, but the same association is not seen in men, Italian researchers said.

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a disease with chronic symptoms or esophagus damage from the abnormal reflux of gastric contents. Heartburn is the major symptom of GERD because the gastric acid gets into the esophagus.

The study says that while being overweight increases the risk of hospitalization for GERD, it does not seem to be more common right after eating fatty foods.

But eating large meals could increase the possibility of GERD, the authors said.

They also noted that estrogen may cause the increase in reflux in women.