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MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) – A new study suggests that asthma due to wheezing lung disease is another problem associated with excess weight in children.
Research says that up to 10% of pediatric asthma cases in the United States could be avoided if obesity in children was eliminated.
"There are very few preventable risk factors for asthma – obesity may actually be the only one." About 6 to 8 million children suffer from asthma. of those cases were removed (by eliminating obesity), they could reach 800,000 children without asthma, "said lead author Jason Lang.
He is an Associate Professor in the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, New Brunswick.
In the United States, about 18% of children are obese. This could be detrimental to their quality of life and increase the risk of chronic disease, said the study's authors.
Although asthma and obesity in adults have been linked, there have been discussions about whether obesity is a determinant of asthma in adults. children, explained the researchers. This study was intended to address some of the concerns raised by previous research, Lang said.
The new research examined data from more than half a million children and about 19 million visits to the doctor. These visits took place in one of the six major child health centers in the United States.
Asthma has been diagnosed in children with two or more doctor appointments. They have also undergone pulmonary function tests (a missing step in some previous research) and a prescription, such as an inhaler, to treat their asthma.
Obese children were 30% more likely to be asthmatic. The results showed that overweight children had a 17% increased risk of asthma.
How could being overweight lead to asthma?
Nobody knows for the moment. And this study does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
But there are several theories, said Lang. The first is that obese children may have impaired lung growth that may lead to smaller airways, which would allow for greater airway obstruction. It is possible that obesity leads to changes making the lungs more responsive, he suggested.
According to Lang, it is also possible that other conditions related to obesity, such as acid reflux or sleep apnea, contribute to asthma. "Or maybe it's not just a thing, it may be a combination," he said.
Dr. Sophia Jan, Chief of Pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York, said the link between the two conditions was not clear, but that inflammation caused by obesity could play a role. She also suggested that some genes may be the basis of both conditions.
Finally, "Once a child has developed obesity, the weight in the chest and upper body will probably weigh on the lungs, thus affecting the lungs' overall ability to expand and function," he said. she said. Jan also suspects that multiple factors link obesity and asthma.
So what can parents do?
According to Lang, "There is literature that shows that when children and adults lose weight, their asthma is much better and may even disappear completely."
He emphasized that physical activity is an important part of any weight loss effort and suggested children follow the recommendations and get at least one hour of physical activity a day.
"The activity dilates the lungs and gives periods of strong ventilation.This is good for the lungs," Lang said.
Jan added that maintaining a healthy weight is healthy for several reasons.
"In addition to long-term cardiovascular benefits – prevention of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes – there are many short-term benefits, including decreased risk of sleep apnea, burns, and more. stomach, gallstones, muscle and joint pain, lack of self-esteem and anxiety and intimidation, "she said.
And now, preventing or minimizing the severity of asthma can be added to this list, she noted.
The results of the study were published online on November 26 pediatrics.
More information
To learn more about the link between weight and asthma, check out the American Lung Association.
SOURCES: Jason Lang, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N .; Sophia Jan, MD, Chief of Pediatrics, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y .; November 26, 2018, pediatricsonline
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