|

Obesity and Asthma

Introduction

A person’s chance of having asthma might be raised and asthma symptoms can be adversely affected by obesity. Weight loss may be more difficult if you have asthma.

A lung condition called asthma results in wheezing, chest tightness, dyspnea, and coughing at night or in the early morning. Reducing stressors and taking medication can be helpful.

A complicated condition, obesity is characterized by high body fat levels. Those who have the illness are more likely to have asthma and other comorbidities.

In the US, there is growing worry over obesity. Not only does it cause major health issues, but it may also be one of the risk factors that may be avoided the most. Research indicates that people who are obese are more likely to get asthma.

We will thus go over the relationship between obesity and asthma, the variables that contribute to it, and strategies for managing both in this post. Here’s a little synopsis to get things started.

Obesity and Asthma: Obese people are more likely to suffer asthma, which increases the requirement for medication and hospitalizations. More severe asthmatic symptoms are likely to occur in obese people. Additionally, patients with obesity and asthma are less likely to respond well to asthma treatments. It’s possible that the precise connection here is related to elevated inflammation in fat people.

Let’s go over the details about fat and asthma now that you have this overview in mind.

How Does Asthma and Obesity Connect?

Compared to people without asthma, a much greater proportion of obese people have asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The body mass index (BMI), which is calculated using a person’s height and weight, is used to determine obesity. The majority of persons have a correlation between their body fat percentage and their BMI. Overweight people are those with a BMI of 25 to 29.9, and obese people are those with a BMI of 30 or higher.

The inability to engage in certain physical activity and shortness of breath are common symptoms of asthma. The excess body fat in the abdomen area causes shortness of breath in many obese people. The combination of fat and asthma will therefore only make dyspnea worse.

Additionally, inflammation can be brought on by excess adipose tissue in obese people. Lung function can be hampered by inflammation surrounding the airways and lungs, which can result in more severe and frequent asthma symptoms.

In addition, obesity increases the risk of diabetes and high cholesterol, both of which can exacerbate respiratory difficulties.

Furthermore, obese people are generally less sensitive to corticosteroids. Asthma symptoms are often treated with corticosteroids. Patients are more prone to develop severe symptoms that necessitate hospitalization if they are less sensitive to these drugs.

Contributing Factors to Asthma and Obesity

Understanding the variables that may contribute to obesity or asthma might help people better manage their illnesses and stop symptoms from getting worse. Obesity can be caused by the following factors:

Physical inactivity – Active people will burn more calories than sedentary or inactive people.
Diet high in simple carbohydrates – Weight gain might result from the higher added sugar content and increased processing of simple carbs.
Overeating – Overeating frequently results in calorie intake exceeding expenditure, leading to weight gain.
Genetics – A person who has obese parents is more likely to be obese themselves. In addition to influencing hormone levels and the likelihood of developing other illnesses, genetics can also increase the likelihood of being overweight.
Social factors – Obesity can be influenced by one’s social life and surroundings. It is likely that one will gain weight if they do not have the means or access to nutritious food.
Health conditions – There are some disorders and ailments that can make gaining weight more likely. Obesity can result from conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome or hypothyroidism.
Medicines – You may experience weight gain as a side effect of some medications that you have been prescribed.
Psychological factors – Since one’s perspective has a big impact on their nutrition and level of physical activity, it can be a big determinant.

A list of potential causes of asthma and its symptoms is provided below:

Family history – According to studies, if one parent has asthma, the likelihood of an individual developing asthma increases significantly.
Respiratory infections – If you experienced a respiratory infection as a youngster, you may be more susceptible to long-term asthma.
Allergies – One disease that can be a risk factor for asthma is having an allergic reaction, like hay fever or eczema.
Smoking – Cigarette smoking causes airway irritation and significantly raises the risk of acquiring asthma. This also applies to people who are around secondhand smoke.
Air pollution – Certain air contaminants can make you more vulnerable. For instance, asthma is more likely to strike someone who spent the vast bulk of their life in an urban setting.

You need to understand the risks that obesity and asthma pose if you are exposed to any of these risk factors.

How to Reduce Weight to Control Asthma

Losing weight can ultimately help you better control your asthma because obesity can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Breathing becomes easier and your body’s level of inflammation is much reduced when you lose the extra weight around your midsection.

Additionally, by bringing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels back within normal limits, decreasing weight might help you feel better overall. Additionally, it helps lower your risk of heart disease. Managing your asthma condition can be made easier by all of these factors.

However, if you have asthma and have trouble breathing when exercising, how can you try to lose weight? Here are a few choices.

Developing a strategy with your physician is one of the first steps you should take if you battle with obesity and asthma and wish to reduce your weight. The plan should outline specific objectives, such as the weight you wish to achieve and the time frame for doing so. Every day, record your weight and make notes about your diet, exercise routine, and the degree to which your asthma was under control. You may track your progress with this.

It is common for weight loss to begin in the kitchen. A lot of people can reduce their weight by eating fewer calories. One thing you should aim for is to be at a calorie deficit, which is defined as burning more calories than you take in over a day.

Additionally, it will be beneficial to switch up your diet. You can definitely lower your chances of gaining weight by avoiding highly processed foods with a lot of added sugar. In order to assist you acquire the proper quantity of nutrients when losing weight, it is essential that you include lean protein, fiber-rich meals, fruits, and vegetables in your diet.

Work with your physician or personal trainer to create an exercise regimen after creating a diet plan. When it comes to exercising, it’s ideal to start out softly and gradually increase the intensity of your sessions.

How can asthma get affected by obesity?

Obesity can impact asthma in two ways, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).

To begin with, obesity raises a person’s risk of developing asthma. According to the American Lung Association, 11% of adults who are obese go on to get asthma, whereas only 9% of those who are not obese do so.

Obese people frequently have worsened asthma symptoms and have a harder time using medicine to control their symptoms.

Second, problems that impact asthma can also result from fat. An increased risk of depression, for instance, can exacerbate asthma symptoms.

Obstructive sleep apnea, which can worsen asthma symptoms, is another potential consequence of obesity.

Is obesity a contributing factor to asthma risk?

One well-known risk factor for asthma is obesity, per a large 2023 cohort research.

According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals of all races who are obese are more likely to have asthma than those who are moderately overweight.

Additionally, compared to men, women who were obese had a higher prevalence of asthma, according to the CDC. According to the data, the prevalence of asthma in men did not significantly differ by weight range.

Lastly, the CDC discovered that the highest increase in asthma prevalence rates was observed in overweight individuals. There was no discernible rise in asthma rates among those who were obese or in the moderate weight category.

Is weight gain a possible consequence of asthma?

Exercise might be more challenging for both adults and children with asthma. Exercise and food are key factors in both weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.

The 2023 cohort research examined the relationship between adult obesity development and asthma symptoms. Compared to people in the average weight range, adults with asthma are more likely to become obese.

There are safe ways to exercise for someone with asthma. The American Lung Association advises doing the following, especially if activity is a trigger:

Warming up: Prior to exercising, one should always warm up for six to ten minutes.
Avoiding exercising when pollution is high: Observe the weather forecast and refrain from exercising outside on days when pollution or allergens are prevalent.
Trying different exercises: Alternate activities as necessary until the person discovers one that has no effect on their symptoms.
Following medical advice: Before exercising, a person should take their prescription, and they should talk to a healthcare provider about their exercise regimen.

Furthermore, adhering to a food plan could aid in weight loss.

Tips and tactics for a healthy diet that can aid in weight loss, weight prevention, or maintaining a moderate weight are provided in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025.

Can asthma be alleviated by losing weight?

According to experts, reducing body weight can aid those with asthma. Being overweight can exacerbate asthma symptoms. It can also lessen the likelihood of acquiring additional comorbidities, which can worsen asthma symptoms.

An individual’s general health can also be enhanced by weight loss. Even a small weight loss of 5–10% of body weight can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, according to the CDC.

Additional therapies for asthma

Helping someone breathe better is the main goal of asthma therapies. While treatment can enhance quality of life, it cannot cure asthma.

Drugs for both short-term and long-term relief are frequently used in treatment. Inhalers and other quick relief drugs can help to quickly alleviate an asthma attack.

Medicines taken over time help stop assaults. Long-term prescription drugs may consist of:

  • Leukotriene modulators, such montelukast
  • Biomolecules
  • corticosteroid
  • lengthy-acting bronchodilators that are inhaled
  • Immunotherapy, or allergy shots
  • Inhaled stabilizers of mast cells, such cromolyn

A person and their healthcare provider will probably work together to create an action plan. This plan can assist someone in recognizing triggers, devising strategies to prevent them, and offering steps to do in the event of an attack.

Knowing when to call a doctor

If someone starts having respiratory problems, they should consult a medical expert. They might also wish to consult a doctor if they are having trouble losing weight.

A medical practitioner can assist by:

  • identifying and managing asthma
  • presenting a weight loss strategy
  • Changing prescriptions if they are no longer effective
  • recommending physical activity to aid in weight loss

Anyone who has more or worsened asthma attacks should get in touch with a medical expert. They can assist in modifying drugs to lessen the intensity of subsequent attacks and aid in their prevention.

Does Asthma Result from Obesity?

One of the most challenging aspects of parenting is frequently denying our kids all of their indulgences. It’s not easy to try to feed children a balanced diet, teach them to watch their portion sizes, and steer clear of processed foods that are high in simple carbohydrates that are mass-produced.

Try to locate a food item in your pantry or refrigerator that is free of high-fructose corn syrup. Try to avoid including this one extra component in your child’s food. Good luck! It’s not as simple as it looks!

Everything is gettingFurthermore, 17% of American children between the ages of 2 and 19 are fat. Children who are overweight are more likely to develop asthma and experience more severe symptoms of the condition, which is a cause for concern. Like obesity, asthma is becoming more common in the United States, affecting about 7 million persons aged 0–17 and 9.4% of children (2010). Research is starting to show that a high incidence of asthma is linked to being overweight, and particularly obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30).

Since causal relationships rely on study design (cross-sectional versus prospective), study controls, and statistical analysis, the precise extent of this association is currently unclear. Asthma may increase obesity risk, but obesity may also increase asthma because of less activity. Nonetheless, there is growing evidence that obesity occurs before asthma, and there is a direct link between obesity and increased asthma severity.

In an effort to have a better understanding of the relationship, let’s examine some study. First, obesity can have an impact on lung physiology; patients with this condition have smaller lung volumes and less flexibility because their peripheral airways shrink, which can lead to them closing during regular breathing.

Obesity can also affect the effectiveness of oxygen exchange by altering the blood volume in lung tissue. Greater amounts of fat can compress the lungs and penetrate lung tissue, causing the blood volume to rise and the airway diameter to decrease. These alterations may restrict airflow, alter the actin-myosin cross-bridge cycle, alter bronchial smooth muscle activity, and cause a subjective increase in dyspnea (breathing difficulties).

These variables may raise a child’s likelihood of developing sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension in later life, neither of which can impede the course of asthma. Additionally, obesity raises the risk of gastric reflux illness, which has been connected to asthma symptoms getting worse.

It has also been suggested that inflammation and hereditary factors are related. Numerous genes have demonstrated evidence of a common association between asthma and high body mass index. There will probably be more relationships found as the investigation goes forward. These genes’ pleiotropic nature and the question of whether the link results from polymorphisms or expression levels are relatively recent study areas that are the subject of intense debate in scientific circles.

It is outside the purview of this debate to examine the vast number of possible genetic relationships under investigation. Many, however, are examining pro-inflammatory processes including IL-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α). TNF-α, which is known to be higher in asthmatics and is connected to the bronchial epithelium’s production of IL-6, is linked to an increase in adipose tissue. The severity of bronchiole hyperreactivity has been demonstrated to decrease when IL-6 is reduced or blocked, while elevated IL-6 levels are linked to worsening airway hyperreactivity.

The connections between Type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as the significance of IL-6 in this association, were examined in Immunometabolism: The Crossroads Between Diabetes and Inflammation. More investigation into treatment options for both indications is necessary since pro-inflammatory markers shared by both disorders reinforce the argument for a similar pathogenesis.

Currently, weight loss has been associated with notable improvements in asthma severity. Losing weight, either by diet or surgery, has been demonstrated to enhance lung function, reduce hospitalizations, and improve asthma symptoms by 48–100%. There have been no improvements in exhaled nitric oxide or eosinophilic airway inflammatory indicators, despite weight loss being linked to improvements in lung function and airway responsiveness to a methacholine challenge.

The lack of correlation between eosinophilic inflammation and weight loss highlights the need for a more thorough knowledge of the function inflammation plays in obese asthmatics compared to those who are not. We may need to combine asthma and obesity approaches for disease models as future research into the multifactorial components of inflammation, genetics, obesity, and asthma develops. For the time being, it is evident that the best course of action is to assist our children in keeping a healthy BMI and eating a balanced diet.

Conclusion

Asthma risk factors include obesity. Both directly and through other concomitant illnesses, it may exacerbate symptoms. It might also be difficult for someone with asthma to maintain a moderate weight or reduce weight.

Exercise and food can help someone control their weight. Individuals who require advice on safe exercise methods or dietary modifications might consult a physician or other specialist.

People with asthma should be able to breathe easier and participate in more activities and exercise if their asthma is managed with medication.

FAQs

Is asthma a result of obesity?

One of the risk factors for asthma development is obesity.
Obesity is strongly linked to the onset of asthma, exacerbation of asthma symptoms, and inadequate asthma management. Medication use and hospitalizations rise as a result.

Will my asthma improve with weight loss?

Furthermore, research shows that obese asthmatics who lose weight have better control over their asthma. Specifically, weight loss that is surgically induced leads to notable improvements in asthma severity, medication use, dyspnea, exercise tolerance, and acute exacerbations, including hospitalizations because of…

In what ways does obesity lead to respiratory issues?

It might be hard to breathe deeply when you have excess fat around your neck, chest, or belly. It can also cause hormones that alter how your body breathes. You can also have an issue with the way your breathing is controlled by your brain.

Which factors contribute to asthma?

family background. There is a three to six times greater chance of developing asthma if you have an asthmatic parent than if you do not.
Obesity, smoking, air pollution, occupational exposures, viral respiratory infections, and allergies.

Does exercising remove asthma?

In actuality, many who have asthma benefit greatly from exercising. By making their breathing muscles stronger, it can enhance the function of their airways. For further details, speak with your healthcare provider.

Are the lungs impacted by obesity?

Obesity’s effects on the respiratory system can be explained by the physical strain that more central adipose tissue places on the body as well as the systemic inflammatory response that a higher BMI triggers.Reduced lung capacities and airway caliber, as well as enhanced airway hyperresponsiveness, are the results of obesity.

After losing weight, does asthma disappear?

An increase in forced vital capacity, rather than alterations in bronchial reactivity or airway inflammatory indicators, accompanied this improvement. Our findings imply that weight loss improves asthma outcomes in obese people with severe asthma through pathways unrelated to airway inflammation.

What can be done to prevent obesity?

Following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, everyone can take the following actions: Eat wholesome foods and drink wholesome liquids.
Get the required amount of exercise.
Obtain adequate rest.
Control your tension.
Discuss with your doctor if being overweight is a health issue.

How does asthma relate to obesity?

A particular kind of subclinical chronic inflammation is also present in obese patients, and it may be somewhat identified in the blood. According to experimental and clinical evidence, this kind of inflammation may exacerbate asthma attacks, impair lung function, and cause airway inflammation.

Reference

  • Fletcher, J. (2023, March 30). What to know about asthma and obesity. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/asthma-and-obesity
  • Hope, P. (2023, July 10). Obesity and asthma – the link, risk factors, and management of each. Prescription Hope. https://prescriptionhope.com/blog-obesity-and-asthma/

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *