OBJECTIVE: To determine whether obesity among children is associated with an increased incidence of asthma. DESIGN AND METHOD: Five thousand nine hundred eighty-four children participated in a lung health study in the Ashkelon region, Israel. A lung health questionnaire was completed and they underwent spirometry. Body mass index (BMI) was then calculated for each child. RESULTS: Three hundred two children (5.05%) were above the 95th percentile for BMI and considered obese. Obese children tended to wheeze more than the non-obese children 14.5% vs. 10.5%, respectively (p<0.038). Asthma (physician diagnosis) was diagnosed more often among obese children than non-obese 7.2% vs. 3.9%, respectively (p<0.008). Inhaler use was more prevalent among obese children than non-obese 15.9% vs. 8.8%, respectively (p<0.001). Bronchial hyperreactivity was significantly greater among the non-obese asthmatic children compared with their obese counterparts, 352 (51.4%) vs. 10 (27.8%), respectively (p<0.001). Chest symptoms and asthma were more frequent in obese than non-obese boys. CONCLUSION: Asthma, wheezing, and inhaler use were more common in obese children than in non-obese children. Symptoms were more prevalent among obese boys. Increasing BMI among children is a risk factor for asthma, which may in reality be obesity-related chest symptoms that mimic asthma.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether obesity among children is associated with an increased incidence of asthma. DESIGN AND METHOD: Five thousand nine hundred eighty-four children participated in a lung health study in the Ashkelon region, Israel. A lung health questionnaire was completed and they underwent spirometry. Body mass index (BMI) was then calculated for each child. RESULTS: Three hundred two children (5.05%) were above the 95th percentile for BMI and considered obese. Obesechildren tended to wheeze more than the non-obesechildren 14.5% vs. 10.5%, respectively (p<0.038). Asthma (physician diagnosis) was diagnosed more often among obesechildren than non-obese 7.2% vs. 3.9%, respectively (p<0.008). Inhaler use was more prevalent among obesechildren than non-obese 15.9% vs. 8.8%, respectively (p<0.001). Bronchial hyperreactivity was significantly greater among the non-obese asthmatic children compared with their obese counterparts, 352 (51.4%) vs. 10 (27.8%), respectively (p<0.001). Chest symptoms and asthma were more frequent in obese than non-obeseboys. CONCLUSION:Asthma, wheezing, and inhaler use were more common in obesechildren than in non-obesechildren. Symptoms were more prevalent among obeseboys. Increasing BMI among children is a risk factor for asthma, which may in reality be obesity-related chest symptoms that mimic asthma.
Authors: Njira L Lugogo; John W Hollingsworth; Druhan L Howell; Loretta G Que; Dave Francisco; Tony D Church; Erin N Potts-Kant; Jennifer L Ingram; Ying Wang; Sin-Ho Jung; Monica Kraft Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2012-07-05 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Luis Garcia-Marcos; Jose Valverde-Molina; Maria L Castaños Ortega; Manuel Sanchez-Solis; Antonia E Martinez-Torres; Jose A Castro-Rodríguez Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2008-10 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: C L M Joseph; S L Havstad; D R Ownby; E Zoratti; E L Peterson; S Stringer; C C Johnson Journal: Pediatr Allergy Immunol Date: 2008-09-22 Impact factor: 6.377
Authors: Sheryl J Kopel; Natalie Walders-Abramson; Elizabeth L McQuaid; Ronald Seifer; Daphne Koinis-Mitchell; Robert B Klein; Marianne Z Wamboldt; Gregory K Fritz Journal: Biol Psychol Date: 2009-11-24 Impact factor: 3.251
Authors: Natalie Walders Abramson; Frederick S Wamboldt; Anthony L Mansell; Rick Carter; Monica J Federico; Marianne Z Wamboldt Journal: J Asthma Date: 2008-03 Impact factor: 2.515