Lung Health News, Fall 2005 / Winter 2006
After seeing childhood asthma and obesity rates soar over the last decade, new research is showing an undeniable link between the lung disease and our nation’s move toward extra large. Children who are overweight or obese at the time of puberty are three times more likely to have asthma into their teens, according to a study of nearly 1,000 kids at the University of Arizona Respiratory Center.
“Obesity definitely plays a role in the persistence of asthma, but the million-dollar question is why,” says Stefano Guerro, MD, Ph.D., MPH, who is part of the research team in Tucson, Arizona, studying the link between asthma and obesity.“One common argument is that obese children are less likely to exercise, which may have some effect on the condition. But there is evidence, not only from our study but also others, that obesity precedes asthma. It seems to be a cause of asthma rather than an effect.”
Other data shows similar increases in overweight or obese adults. In California, lifetime asthma prevalence rises from 10.7 percent for normal-weight adults to 15.2 percent for obese adults, according to the 2001 California Health Interview Survey. Obese women are 2.4 times more likely to report having asthma than non-obese women.
““It’s a very active research area right now because it has huge implications for public health,” Dr. Guerro says. “If there is a direct causal relationship, and we don’t know for sure that there is, it will open up many possibilities for prevention. If we can control weight, we can improve asthma outcomes and reduce
OPEN AIRWAYS FOCUSES ON ASTHMA MANAGEMENT
“These studies emphasize the need for proper asthma management,” says Mike Welch, MD, an asthma specialist and volunteer for the American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties’ asthma camp. “People with asthma need to keep their symptoms under control so they can stay active.”
The American Lung Association’s Open Airways For Schools program teaches kids how to better manage their asthma, including exercising and staying fit. The program focuses on helping kids understand how asthma affects their lungs, taking their medications properly, and avoiding “triggers” or irritants like dust and smoke that can trigger an asthma attack.
Many children who are diagnosed with asthma, especially exercise-induced asthma, are afraid to exercise because it makes them short of breath. A session in the Open Airways curriculum focuses on the need for exercise to help counter these fears. It explains that when asthma is properly managed, exercise is not only possible, it is necessary for good health, even for those who can have their asthma symptoms triggered by exercise.
