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Weight loss improves asthma severity in obese patients

Weight loss in obese patients with asthma led to an improvement in asthma severity measured by greater airway hyper-responsiveness, lung function, asthma control and quality of life, according to study results.

“This study demonstrated that a behavioral weight-reduction program was associated with significant improvements in PC₂₀, (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV₁]), (forced vital capacity [FVC]), asthma control, and quality of life in obese people with physiologically proven asthma,” Smita Pakhale, MD, FRCPC, MSc, of the University of Ottawa, and colleagues wrote.

The researchers conducted a prospective, controlled, parallel group study and followed 22 obese patients, aged 18 to 75 years, with asthma to examine whether weight loss would reduce asthma severity. Sixteen participants adhered to a weight-loss program for 3 months, and six participants who were awaiting bariatric surgery served as controls.

The dieting participants lost on average 16.5 kg from baseline to 3 months (P < .001) compared with a mean weight gain of 0.6 kg in the controls. FEV₁ and FVC improved by 5% in the diet group (P < .001), while the controls saw a decline of 7%.

Physical activity also improved in the weight-loss group from 15.5 metabolic equivalent of tasks (METs) to 25.7 METs and decreased in the controls from 4.6 METs to 1.8 METs.

Although the small sample size and “imbalance between the two research groups” limited the reliability of the study findings, the researchers wrote, “the consistency of the findings on the positive effects of weight loss on asthma outcomes in obese people is promising and supports the importance of actively treating comorbid obesity in people with asthma.” –by Ryan McDonald

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.