A new U.S study states that obese people are at greater risk of developing severe asthma than people who are slim.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr. Brian Taylor at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta. In their study, the team took data from the U.S. National Asthma Survey.
Dr. Brian Taylor, said in a prepared statement:
Our analysis showed that out of more than 3,000 patients who have asthma, obese patients were 66% more likely to report continuous symptoms, 36% more likely to miss more days of work and 52% more likely to be classified as having either moderate or severe persistent asthma when compared to slim people.
The findings come true when the team of researchers considered following factors — gender of patients, their race, age, smoking habit, and finally historical background of asthma in family.
Taylor and his team found that obese people were mostly uneducated or less educated, not employed and were Afro-American.
The researchers also discovered that obese people — who have asthma frequently visit the emergency room and used more rescue inhaler medications and used inhaled steroids to control asthma. The link between obesity and asthma severity considered to be stronger in case of women than in men.
Although the link between obesity and asthma is still not known, but it is considered that severe asthma may reduce the activity of a person, which may end in weight gain. The scientists also mentioned that a hormone called leptin may also be responsible.
The hormone ‘leptin’ is manufactured by fat cells and serves important part in body’s weight regulation. Earlier studies have mentioned that this hormone may lead to inflammation of airways in asthma patients.
The findings of the study were presented at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference in San Francisco.
[Source ]
