Connection between Asthma and Obesity: Any Proof?
Obesity and asthma share a complex relationship, with obesity increasing the risk of developing asthma and worsening its symptoms and management.
The Risk and Symptoms
Childhood and adult obesity elevate the risk of asthma through macrophage-mediated inflammation in adipose tissue and altered metabolic regulation. This inflammation leads to a non-allergic inflammatory asthma phenotype with more severe symptoms and disease burden. Excess torso fat also physically compresses the lungs, causing breathing difficulties.
Management Challenges
Obese asthma patients tend to respond less well to inhaled corticosteroids, complicating symptom control and increasing exacerbations. Steroid treatments themselves can worsen weight gain and appetite, creating a vicious cycle that impairs weight management and asthma control.
Weight Loss Benefits
Weight reduction, whether via lifestyle changes, bariatric surgery, or newer GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, has been shown to improve asthma control, reduce exacerbations, and can decrease the need for asthma medications. GLP-1 drugs also modulate inflammatory responses differently than steroids, helping in obese patients with severe asthma.
Psychosocial Aspect
Self-efficacy or patients' confidence in managing asthma also mediates the relationship between obesity and asthma outcomes, indicating that addressing behavioral and psychological factors is important for improving asthma control in obese individuals.
Seeking Help
If a person experiences additional or worsening asthma attacks, they should contact a healthcare professional. People with both obesity and asthma often experience exacerbated symptoms and find it more difficult to manage their symptoms with medication.
A Healthcare Professional's Role
A healthcare professional can help by diagnosing and treating asthma, providing a plan for weight loss, updating medications, and providing exercise suggestions. They can also help manage the complex interplay between obesity, asthma, and other health conditions.
Impact on Overall Health
Even a modest weight loss can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugars, which can have a positive impact on overall health.
Asthma Treatments
Asthma treatments focus on helping a person breathe better and include quick-relief medications, such as inhalers, and long-term medications, which can include leukotriene modifiers, biologics, corticosteroids, inhaled long-acting bronchodilators, allergy shots, and inhaled mast cell stabilizers.
Exercise and Asthma
Asthma can make exercise more difficult, which can contribute to weight gain. It's important for people with asthma to work closely with their healthcare professional to develop an exercise plan that is safe and effective for them.
The Connection Between Obesity and Asthma
Obesity is a well-known risk factor for asthma, according to a large 2023 cohort study. Managing both conditions is crucial for improving the quality of life and reducing the risk of complications.
[1] Reference for inflammatory compounds and airway inflammation [2] Reference for weight loss benefits [3] Reference for non-allergic inflammatory asthma phenotype [4] Reference for GLP-1 drugs and inflammatory responses [5] Reference for self-efficacy and asthma outcomes in obese individuals
- The complex relationship between obesity and asthma is mediated by macrophage-mediated inflammation in adipose tissue and altered metabolic regulation.
- Obese individuals with asthma may struggle to manage their symptoms, as they tend to respond less well to inhaled corticosteroids, leading to increased exacerbations.
- Weight reduction strategies, such as lifestyle changes, bariatric surgery, or GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs can improve asthma control, reduce exacerbations, and decrease the need for asthma medications.
- Addressing behavioral and psychological factors is important for improving asthma control in obese individuals, as self-efficacy or patients' confidence significantly influences asthma outcomes.
- If a person is experiencing additional or worsening asthma attacks, contacting a healthcare professional is essential, especially for those with both obesity and asthma, as they may experience exacerbated symptoms.
- A healthcare professional can help manage the interplay between obesity, asthma, and other health conditions, providing a plan for weight loss, updating medications, and suggesting safe and effective exercise regimes.
- Achieving a modest weight loss can have a positive impact on overall health, improving blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, further emphasizing the importance of managing both obesity and asthma.
