Relationship Between Asthma and Obesity

Obesity and asthma are interlinked. According to a study published in the journal of Obesity, it was found that overweight adolescents and children are likely to suffer from asthma.

Mary Helen et al conducted a study to determine the association of asthma and obesity in children of different race and ethnicity.

A population based cross sectional study was done to measure height-weight and their medical records were studied to find out the occurrence of asthma in adolescents and children in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California integrated health plan from 2007 to 2009.

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About 681,122 respondents aged between 6-19 years were enrolled in the study.

It was discovered that the relationship between BMI and asthma was inferior for African Americans as compared to youths from other races and ethnic groups.

The experts further noted the presence of strong relationship between asthma and BMI in Hispanic groups.

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The researchers said that the obese youth with asthma visited the doctor for asthma treatment more frequently as compared to healthy subjects.

The amount of inhaled or oral corticosteroids used by the overweight young people with known asthma was far more than their healthy counterparts.

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Mary Helen Black, the lead author of the study and PhD at the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation said, "This research contributes to the growing evidence that there is a relationship between childhood obesity and asthma, and suggests that factors related to race and ethnicity, particularly for Hispanic youth, may modify this relationship." She further added, "The study's large and diverse population, which is broadly representative of the Southern California region, allowed us to examine a wide range of BMI categories in relation to asthma among youth from five racial/ethnic groups."

This cross-sectional study highlighted the prevalence of asthma in youth belonging to ethnically and racially diverse segment of population. About 18 percent of the enrolled youth were reported with asthma.

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This study employed electronic records to determine the susceptibility of psoriasis - a skin disease, in overweight children.

The study concluded that a strong association existed between body mass index (BMI) and asthma in different races and ethnic groups.

References:

Higher Prevalence of Obesity Among Children With Asthma; Mary Helen et al; Pediatric Obesity 2012

Source-Medindia