A scientific review covering seven studies and more than 330,000 men and women found a positive link between obesity and asthma incidence.
The review was conducted in Colorodo and results were published in the April issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
The authors conluded that adults who are overweight or obese have a 50 percent increase in asthma risk compared to a person with a normal or even low BMI.
Asthma affects millions of children and adults in the US. It is an inflammatory disorder of the airways often tied to allergies and exposure to second hand smoke. It is a significant cause of hospital admission in children and can lead to further complications in adults.
Obsesity is an epidemic in the US. It is increases one's risk for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and premature death. Often obsese or overweight adults can develop sleep apnea, another respiratory disorder.
The study authors stressed to need for exercise counseling and weight loss to help prevent obesity and lower the rate of new asthma cases each year. Though the study only looked at adults, the benefit would also be evident in children who are both obese and asthmatic.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on April 4, 2007 04:50 PM
