Obesity and the Lung: What We Know Today
Judith Maria Brock1, Adrian Billeter2, Beat Peter Müller-Stich2
1Department of Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik and Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRCH), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany, Judith.Brock@gmx.de.
Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases
|November 26, 2020
Summary
Obesity significantly impacts lung function and pulmonary diseases due to mechanical effects and hormonal factors from adipose tissue. Weight loss interventions, like bariatric surgery, may alter these interactions, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Rising global obesity rates highlight the need to understand adipose tissue's endocrine role.
- Adipocytokines, hormones from adipose tissue, mediate interactions with target organs.
- Obesity's mechanical effects on the respiratory system are increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on obesity's impact on lung function and diseases.
- To explore interactions between adipose tissue and the lungs.
- To identify consequences of weight loss on pulmonary health and future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing existing research on obesity, adipose tissue, and lung function.
- Analysis of associations between obesity and specific pulmonary conditions.
- Examination of data related to bariatric surgery and its pulmonary effects.
Main Results:
- Obesity is linked to obesity hypoventilation syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, and COPD.
- Mechanical compression and altered adipocytokine profiles affect lung mechanics and inflammation.
- Bariatric surgery shows potential for improving pulmonary function in obese individuals.
Conclusions:
- Obesity poses significant risks to lung health through mechanical and endocrine pathways.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for managing pulmonary diseases in obese patients.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the long-term pulmonary consequences of weight loss interventions.
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