Obesity can worsen symptoms of asthma

People who are obese tend to suffer from more severe asthma symptoms as compared to those with normal weight. Along with its other side effects, obesity can also create problems for those who suffer from asthma. A number of previous studies tell us that obese people are at a greater risk of developing asthma that their normal-weight counterparts. But as to whether being overweight affects asthma severity still remains a matter of contention. To assess the relation between obesity and asthma, American researchers studied 3,095 adults who were asked about their asthma symptoms over the previous 5 years. Out of these, one third of the participants were normal weight (Body Mass Index or BMI <25), one third were overweight (BMI between 25 and 30) and one third were obese (BMI >30). Asthma severity was measured through respiratory symptoms, healthcare utilisation, use of medicines, missed workdays and the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) severity classification. The results were adjusted for gender, race, age, education, income, employment status, smoking status, family history of asthma, state of residence and residence in a metropolitan area. The results showed that as compared with normal-weight adults, those who were obese were 66 percent more likely to say they'd suffered continuous symptoms over the past month, and 42 percent more likely to have symptoms consistent with severe, persistent asthma. Obese asthmatics also tended to need more medication and miss more days from work. Thus, weight control should be a fundamental part of asthma management. And by checking their weight, obese people can prevent their asthma symptoms from worsening.