Obesity and Pulmonary Disease

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Exposure to air contaminants, such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, ozone and nitrogen dioxide, are known to be respiratory irritants that can cause illnesses such as asthma and other pulmonary diseases.

Did you know that overweight and obese adults breathe in up to 50% more air every day, compared with adults of normal weight?

Did you know that overweight and obese children breathe in up to 24% more air each day than children of normal weight?

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Visceral abdominal fat restricts the diaphragm and makes it harder for lungs to expand. This means that both overweight adults and children are more vulnerable to air contaminants and at greater risk for pulmonary diseases.

• Asthma

• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

• Obstructive sleep apnea

• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome

• Dyspnea (shortness of breath; wheezing)

If you are overweight or obese and suffering from any of these pulmonary issues, weight loss is a must to help improve with lung function.

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Additional reading: Adipose hormone may play a role in obesity-related asthma