Overweight and obesity worsen asthma symptoms in children, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology. Researchers compared symptom days and BMI in 736 children using no treatment for asthma, including inhalers. Those who were overweight or obese experienced up to five additional weeks of symptoms in a year and had more asthma attacks, compared to children with lower BMIs. The authors suggest lifestyle interventions designed for weight management in children would increase respiratory health.
Lang JE, Fitzpatrick AM, Mauger DT, et al. Overweight/obesity status in preschool children associates with worse asthma but robust improvement on inhaled corticosteroids. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Published online December 19, 2017.