Extreme BMI predicts higher asthma prevalence and is associated with lung function impairment in school‐aged children

Abstract

Extreme BMI is associated with different lung function impairment. This study showed that high BMI in both sexes was associated with low FEV1/FVC and low BMI in males are associated with poor PEF and FEF 25-75% and contributed to the symptoms of asthma.

Quality of Life and Health Outcomes in Overweight and Non-Overweight Children With Asthma

“…In addition, high BMI coincided with low FEV1/FCV scores on lung function testing which is associated with lung impairment. (Chu et al, 2009). A similar result was found in a study conducted in Nova Scotia, Canada, which examined 3,804 students 10 to 11 years of age (Sithole, Douwes, Burstyn, & Veugelers, 2008).…”

“…However, the obese children did not have more hospitalizations. Finally, an international study conducted in Taiwan, examined the relationship between asthma, lung function, and BMI in over 15,000 school-aged children (Chu et al, 2009). The researchers found the prevalence of asthma increased as BMI elevated in both male and females.…”

The relationship between overweight and otitis media with effusion in children

“…16 Turning to the relationship between childhood obesity and OME, mean weight was found to be markedly higher in children with OME than in unaffected children, suggesting that child obesity may affect the occurrence of OME. 9 Furthermore, children with a past history of chronic OME may suffer neural damage to the chorda tympani, leading to changes in the sense of taste, especially a preference for sweet flavors, thus leading to obesity.…”

“…In the period from 1988 to 1991, the prevalence of child obesity was estimated to be 10.9%. 2,3 Data (20032,3 Data ( -2006) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were 12.4% for ages 2-5 years; 17.0% for ages 6-11; 17.6% for ages [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Earlier onset and greater severity of pediatric obesity have been associated with a higher severity of adult obesity and an increased rate of complications.…”

Obesity, Nutrition, and Asthma in Children

“…Unlike in adults, obesity does not appear to reduce vital capacity or total lung capacity substantially, 98,104,106,109 and in some reports may be associated with greater volumes and capacity. 123 However, obese children with asthma may have a mild obstructive impairment in airway flows, 22,105,111,115,124 though this has not been a universal finding. 98,106,109,125 Airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is excessive constriction triggered by innocuous stimuli, and is an important phenotypic component of true asthma.…”