By affecting the gastroesophageal pressure gradient, obesity predisposes to reflux of gastric contents. The investigators hypothesized that the loss of weight will decrease this gradient and as a result decrease the severity and frequency of GERD symptoms. GERD negatively affects health related quality of life. Since loss of weight may decrease gastroesophageal reflux, the investigators hypothesized that it obesity contributes to poor quality of life in GERD subjects and losing weight should also favorably impact and improve quality of life in GERD patients.