Obesity and asthma are linked, says new research

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Obesity is a risk factor for asthma among women, according to a study from Canada.
Asthma is often linked to an underlying allergic condition, but other factors may be important. Researchers at the University of Ottawa have shown that obesity is an significant influence on respiratory health. They surveyed over 85,000 Camadians, asking them about asthma history, allergies and weight. They found that obesity among women led to an 85 per cent increase in asthma risk, compared to women who were not obese.

For men, the corresponding figure was 20 per cent. One unit of increased body mass index increased the asthma risk by six per cent among women and three per cent among men. Obese, non-allergic women had a 9.5 per cent risk of asthma, while normal weight counterparts had an risk of 3.1 per cent. The researchers conclude that the association between asthma and obesity is stronger among non-allergic than allergic women.

Source
Chest September 2006