Obesity and Asthma

Obesity affects your physical health and can cause health conditions and complications.

Obesity is a serious health problem that affects 65% of adults worldwide. Healthcare providers use body mass index (BMI) to diagnose people as being overweight or obese. Your BMI corresponds to your weight compared to your height. A high BMI suggests that you carry too much weight for your frame. Excess weight can cause many health problems and affect your respiratory system.

Obesity and Asthma

There is a relationship 1 between obesity and asthma. Excess fat causes fat cells. Fat cells cause inflammation and press against your rib cage. These fat cells can cause inflammation throughout your body, including your airways. However, this inflammation causes airway inflammation without obstruction. Additionally, pressure against your rib cage can contribute to your breathing problems. Also, carrying excess weight makes your respiratory symptoms (not asthma) more pronounced. A lot of these respiratory symptoms can resemble asthma. Being overweight or obese can also make your asthma harder to manage or control. You may need more medications or seek emergency medical assistance to treat your symptoms. 

  • Labored breathing
  • Coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Difficulty breathing

There is hope for you to manage your asthma symptoms if you are struggling with obesity. Adopting lifestyle changes, like better eating habits, physical movement, and weight loss, can help improve your breathing!