Asthma and Obesity: A Losing Combination

Asthma and Childhood Obesity: A Losing Combination

When parents come into my office with their asthmatic children, they often ask these questions:

"If my child loses weight, will he breathe better?"

"My child is having trouble in PE (Physical Education). Will you excuse her from PE this year?"

"Is my child severely overweight? How can I tell?"

Excess Weight Might Worsen Asthma

Recent studies have focused on the impact that obesity has on lung function. There isn't much evidence, though, showing proportionately more inflammation in the lungs as a child gets heavier. Some investigators have demonstrated that lung mechanics are influenced by weight. A study in Pediatrics (2007;120:805-13), found that asthmatic children, ranging in age from 5 to 12 years old, had a higher risk of being overweight too. They also had more psychological problems (stress and depression). The children were studied for an average of 4.5 years. As they got older, overweight children with asthma had worsening behavioral problems and became even less physically active.

Another study in Pediatrics (2007;120:734-740), observed children over 2 years of age arriving at a children's hospital for severe asthma. During the study, researchers noted 813 children and 884 Emergency Department visits for asthma. The investigators found that overweight children were more likely to be hospitalized for asthma. They also found that non-white children were less likely to be hospitalized.

The above studies highlight the importance of appropriately treating and monitoring asthma in order to allow children to be active in PE activities as well as recreational sports and games. Healthy diet and exercise should be emphasized at an early age. If your child is already overweight, seek expertise for advice about programs available for helping children to modify their diet and increase their activity levels.

But Is my child overweight?

How do you determine if your child is overweight?

First, figure out their Body Mass Index (BMI). There are several online tools that will determine your child's BMI. You just need to enter their height and weight.

Children's BMI are based on gender and age. Children whose BMI falls above the 85th percentile but under 95th percentile are mildly overweight, but children over that 95th percentile are obese.

Answers to parents' questions about weight and asthma

My reply to the above questions:

"If my child loses weight, will he breathe better?"

Yes, I believe your child will breathe better and be more responsive to his asthma medications if he loses weight.

"My child is having trouble in PE (Physical Education). Will you excuse her from PE this year?"

No, your child cannot be excused from gym but I will work with you to get your child's asthma under better control. Perhaps gym activities can be modified to meet your child's needs. There are steps we can take, with medications, to prevent exercise induced asthma.