Children with asthma far more likely to become obese, says study

Children with asthma are 50 per cent more likely to become obese within 10 years of being diagnosed, according to a 10-year study.

Difficulty breathing causes them to take less exercise than other children making them prone to putting on weight.

More than 2,000 children took part in the study by the University of Southern California.

However, the research also found that asthmatic children can reduce their chances of putting on weight by 43 per cent if they use reliever inhalers during asthma attacks.

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“Asthma and obesity often occur together in children,” said Dr Zhanghua Chen, who led the research.

“But it is unclear whether children with asthma are at higher risk for onset of obesity or whether obese children develop asthma, or both.”

The study looked at 2,171 children aged between five and seven.

When the trial commenced, around 13 per cent, had asthma.

Over a ten-year follow-up, researchers found a sixth of all these children had become obese.

The findings were then confirmed using a different group of nine-to-ten-year-olds who were followed until they left school.

Another researcher, Professor Frank Gilliland said the fact reliever but not preventer inhaler medications reduced obesity was a surprise.

“Early diagnosis and treatment of asthma may help prevent the childhood obesity epidemic,” reported the Telegraph.

“Part of the problem may be a vicious cycle where asthma and obesity negatively affect each other.

Dr Erika Kennington, Head of Research at Asthma UK: “Asthma is a complex condition that affects 5.4 million people in the UK, yet years of research underfunding means it remains a relative mystery.

“Our research tells us that children who are obese are more likely to get a diagnosis of asthma, and that if you have asthma and you are obese, your symptoms are likely to be more severe.

“However, we do not yet fully understand the link between the two. ”

The University of Southern California study was published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.