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Relation between asthma and body mass index in 6-15 years old children

Akefeh Ahmadiafshar1, Sara Tabbekhha, Noureddin Mousavinasab

  • 1Metabolic Diseases Research Center, AND Pediatric Ward, Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. akefeh45@zums.ac.ir.

Acta Medica Iranica
|December 17, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity is linked to asthma. This study found higher body mass index (BMI) in children with asthma compared to those without, suggesting weight management may benefit asthmatic children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood asthma and obesity are prevalent public health concerns.
  • Existing research presents conflicting evidence on the association between obesity and asthma risk.
  • This study investigates the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and asthma in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between asthma and body mass index (BMI) in children.
  • To determine if obesity is a risk factor for childhood asthma.
  • To explore potential benefits of weight control in managing childhood asthma.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 200 asthmatic children and 200 non-asthmatic children, aged 6-15 years.
  • Asthma diagnosis and classification based on National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines.
  • Body mass index (BMI) measurement, with overweight defined as BMI >85th percentile and obesity as BMI >95th percentile.

Main Results:

  • Asthmatic children exhibited a significantly higher mean BMI (17.9 kg/m2) compared to non-asthmatic children (16.5 kg/m2) (P=0.0001).
  • A higher prevalence of overweight (18%) and obesity (13.5%) was observed in asthmatic children versus non-asthmatics (7.5% and 6%, respectively) (P=0.0001).
  • No significant association was found between asthma severity, duration, medication, and BMI in asthmatic children.

Conclusions:

  • This study demonstrates a significant association between higher BMI, overweight, and obesity in children with asthma.
  • Findings suggest that obesity may be a contributing factor to childhood asthma.
  • Weight management interventions could be beneficial for children diagnosed with asthma.

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