Body Fat Increases Asthma Risk

Adiposity is associated with the risk for asthma in children and adults of both genders, according to a recent study. Additionally, central adiposity was found to be strongly associated with the risk for atopic asthma particularly in adult women.

Previous evidence has demonstrated a relationship between obesity and asthma. However, body mass index (BMI) is not considered an adequate measure in characterizing obesity.
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Using data from the 2001-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the researchers evaluated 8886 children aged 8 to 19 years and 12,795 adults aged 20 to 69 years via indices defined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

In addition to BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio, the researchers calculated whole body and local adiposity indices using DXA. Additionally, an analysis of adiposity measures and asthma was performed.

Results indicated that general adiposity was significantly associated with asthma in children, with no significant difference among genders. These results were largely seen in non-atopic children, in whom central adiposity was also associated with asthma, while no significant associations were found between adiposity and asthma among atopic children.

However, the researchers observed an association between adiposity and atopic asthma in adults, especially women.

“Adiposity measured by DXA provides similar information to that obtained by using anthropometric indices among children of both genders, and among adult men,” the researchers concluded. “However, DXA provides additional information in adult women, in whom DXA-measured central adiposity is significantly associated with asthma, particularly atopic asthma. “

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Forno E, Han YY, Libman IM, Muzumdar RH, Celedón JC. Adiposity and asthma in a nationwide study of children and adults in the United States [Published online November 16, 2017]. Ann Am Thorac Soc. https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201709-723OC.