Effects of Nutritional Education and Diet on Obesity and Asthma Progression in Children and Adolescents

Background: Asthma and obesity commonly co-occur in children, with obesity contributing to asthma development through inflammatory and mechanical pathways. A Mediterranean diet may reduce inflammation and improve outcomes. However, research on the effects of nutritional interventions and dietary education in children with asthma and obesity within the Polish population remains limited. Methods: 142 participants were enrolled in the observational study and divided into three groups: children with asthma and overweight/obesity, children with overweight/obesity, and a control group. Anthropometric and clinical data, dietary habits, and lifestyle parameters (sleep duration, physical activity, screen time) were assessed at baseline and after one year of nutritional intervention. The Mediterranean diet was the main dietary model advocated throughout the intervention. Diet quality and adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern were evaluated using the KIDMED 2.0 index, reflecting the anti-inflammatory components of the intervention. Nutritional education was delivered every 6-8 weeks. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The nutritional intervention led to significant improvements in metabolic parameters, evidenced by reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting glucose levels. A decrease in C-reactive protein levels indicated reduced inflammation. The adherence index to the Mediterranean diet, measured by the KIDMED 2.0 scale, significantly increased in all groups, with the most favorable effects observed in the obese/overweight group with asthma. Positive behavioral changes were also noted, including increased physical activity, longer sleep duration, and reduced screen time. The intervention also contributed to a significant improvement in participants' nutritional knowledge. Conclusions: Dietary education and an anti-inflammatory diet improved health in children with asthma and obesity. Early nutritional interventions helped reduce inflammation, improve metabolism, and shape behaviors. The findings stress the need to integrate diet education into therapeutic and preventive strategies for affected pediatric populations.