Asthma Worsens in Obese Individuals
New research findings throws light on the fact that asthma is much more difficult to be controlled in obese individuals as compared to lean people.
According to the study report mentioned in the health journal 'Allergy', a person whose body mass index (BMI) that is the proportion of his body's weight to his height, is more than 25, is more likely to suffer from acute asthma. Such people show a quicker transition from an acceptable level of asthma control to an unacceptable level of asthma control, though the reversal from the unacceptable to acceptable form of asthma control was not affected by the BMI.
In this study Dr, Phillipe Saint-Pierre and his colleagues at the Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique in Mont pellier, France , used a model to analyze the data from 406 people suffering from asthma, who were monitored for 182 days at a stretch. In addition to examining BMI status, the study model accounted for asthma severity as well as current and past oral corticosteroid use.
According to the analysis it was found that overweight people had 47% reduced chances of achieving acceptable asthma control. Moreover, overweight individuals gained acceptable control of their asthma more slowly than their non-overweight peers.
Source: Reuters Health, February 9, 2006 |
