Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Asthma prevalence trends by weight status among US children aged 2-19 years, 1988-2014
L J Akinbami1,2, L M Rossen1, T H I Fakhouri1
1National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD, USA.
Insights
Childhood asthma prevalence did not increase due to rising obesity rates. While obesity is a risk factor, trends show asthma increased in normal-weight children, not overweight ones.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Obesity is a known risk factor for asthma.
- The contribution of increasing obesity prevalence to rising childhood asthma rates remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if population-level changes in weight status influenced asthma prevalence over time in children.
- To analyze the association between obesity trends and asthma prevalence trends in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 40,644 children (aged 2-19 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-2014).
- Analyzed asthma trends by weight status using body mass index percentiles derived from measured height and weight.
- Employed logistic regression and population attributable fraction to assess the obesity-asthma association.
Main Results:
- Asthma prevalence increased only among normal-weight children; no significant interaction between weight status and time was observed.
- The population attributable fraction for overweight/obesity increased from 8.5% to 11.9% between 1988-1994 and 2011-2014, but this rise was not statistically significant (P=0.44).
- Obesity remained a consistent risk factor for asthma throughout the study period.
Conclusions:
- The study's findings do not support the hypothesis that obesity trends contributed to the rise in childhood asthma prevalence.
- Asthma prevalence trends appear independent of obesity trends in the pediatric population studied.
Background:
Obesity is a risk factor for asthma. However, it is unclear if increased obesity prevalence contributed to rising childhood asthma prevalence.
Objective:
To assess if population-level changes in weight status impacted asthma prevalence over time.
Methods:
Using nationally representative 1988-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data for 40 644 children aged 2-19 years, we analyzed asthma trends by weight status (body mass index age-specific percentiles determined using measured weight and height). Logistic regression and population attributable fraction were used to assess the association between obesity and asthma prevalence.
Results:
Although obesity was a risk factor for asthma throughout the period, asthma prevalence increased only among children with normal weight; there was no interaction between weight status and time. The population attributable fraction for overweight/obesity rose from 8.5% in 1988-1994 to 11.9% in 2011-2014, but this increase was not significant (P = 0.44).
Conclusions:
Together, these data do not support a contribution of obesity trends to asthma prevalence trends.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:30Asthma-IV: Nursing Management
First, in...