Being overweight apparently accounted for a quarter of asthma cases in obese children

Relationship between weight and asthma disorders in obese children

In recent years, various scientific studies have shown that obesity increases the risk of overweight. A recent study suggests that obesity accounts for around a quarter of all asthma in overweight children.

More and more children are too fat

In Germany more and more obese people live. Many children and adolescents are far too fat. Health experts repeatedly warn against underestimating the risks of being overweight. Adiposity at a young age can have dangerous health consequences, including increasing the risk of childhood asthma.

A recent study suggests that severe overweight accounts for around a quarter of all asthma cases in obese children. (Image: kwanchaichaiudom / fotolia.com)

Numerous diseases could be avoided

A study of more than 500,000 children's health data in the US suggests obesity accounts for approximately a quarter (23 to 27 percent) of asthma cases in obese children.

As Duke University researchers and staff at the National Pediatric Learning Health System (PEDSnet) said in a statement, this could mean that around 10 percent of children between the ages of two and 17 with asthma would have avoided the disease by maintaining a healthy weight can.

"Asthma is the # 1 chronic disease in children. We can not prevent some of the causes, such as genetics and viral infections in childhood, "said Jason E. Lang, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at Duke University and lead author of the study.

"Obesity may be the only risk factor for childhood asthma that could be prevented. This is further proof that it is important that children stay active and have a healthy weight. "

The results of the retrospective study were published in the journal "Pediatrics".

Data from over half a million children analyzed

To get to their conclusions, the researchers analyzed data from 507,496 children and over 19 million physician visits to six major child health centers.

The data was entered into a clinical research data network between 2009 and 2015 called PEDSnet.

Those classified as asthmatic had received the diagnosis at two or more medical appointments and also received a prescription such as for an inhaler.

Also tests of lung function confirmed that they had the disease.

Children classified as obese - those with a body mass index (BMI) in their 95th percentile or higher by age and gender - were 30 percent more likely to develop asthma than peers of healthy weight.

Asthma did not only affect those with obesity. Even children who were overweight but not obese (BMI in the 85-94 percentile) also had a 17 percent increase in asthma risk compared to healthy peers.

The researchers calculated the asthma risk using several models and adjusted risk factors such as gender, age, socioeconomic status and allergies. The results remained similar.

Prevention of obesity at a young age

According to Lang, the study has several limitations. Thus, the data were collected during visits to the doctor and not in a controlled clinical trial.

According to Lang, further research is needed to prove that obesity and obesity lead directly to changes that contribute to asthma. For so far, scientists can not fully explain how and why this happens.

The researchers have investigated hypotheses that show possible differences in the development of the lungs and airways of overweight children and inflammatory changes in the body due to obesity, Lang said.

These and other findings, such as that asthma is often improved by weight loss, suggest, according to the study authors, that obesity plays a key role or is directly responsible.

"I think it's reasonable to worry that this is a causal relationship," said Lang.

"It seems that the risk of asthma increases significantly for children who are overweight or obese," said Lang.

And this significant increase "draws attention to the importance of preventing obesity at an early age". (Ad)