ASTHMA AND OBESITY

 Obese people may have reduced lung volume, lower blood flow to airways, and are less likely to respond to asthma medications, putting them at a higher risk for asthma and related complications. In fact, 38 percent of adults with asthma are obese, while adults without asthma have a 26 percent obesity rate. Obesity has been linked to developing asthma, worsening asthma symptoms, and poor asthma control. In addition to extra weight around the chest and abdomen constricting the lungs, studies suggest that fat tissue produces inflammatory substances that affect the lungs. Luckily there is also a connection between weight loss and improved asthma symptoms, making weight loss an option for treating asthma in people with obesity.

P.S. Obesity is determined by body mass index (BMI), which can be calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. A body mass index of 25 or more is considered overweight and a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.

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