Lung function norms naturally decline over time over the human lifespan. However, this decline is atPeople with moderate or high weight gainsteeper. This is the result of a new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). In this study, scientists analyzed the effects of weight changes on respiratory health over a period of 20 years.
The study, published in the journal Thorax, is based on data from 3,700 participants. They live in different countries in Europe and Australia and are between 20 and 44 years old. The researchers subjected the subjects to repeated measurements of weight and lung function using spirometry between 1991 and 2014.
“Previous research has shown that weight gain is linked to a decline in lung function. Our study is the first to analyze such a diverse sample over a longer period of time.” So commented Judith Garcia Aymerich, head of the study and program for non-communicable diseases and the environment at ISGlobal. Most previous studies were with relatively short follow-up and focused on adults up to 50 years of age.
The study found that people with a body mass index within recommended rates experienced an accelerated decline in lung function as they gained weight. Conversely, weight loss helped mitigate the decline in lung function in obese people. Additionally, people who kept their weight low throughout adulthood showed much less pronounced declines in respiratory health.
Two mechanisms could explain the connection between weight gain and lung health. First, weight gain can affect normal lung function values through mechanical effects. “The fat mass in the abdominal and chest areas likely limits the space for lung expansion,” commented ISGlobal researcher Gabriela Prado Peralta, lead author of the study. Second, weight gain can affect lung function through inflammatory processes, as adipose tissue is a source of inflammatory substances that can damage lung tissue and reduce airway diameter.
Take countermeasures
Maintaining good lung function in adulthood is crucial. This allows people to prevent chronic respiratory diseases. These represent a serious public health problem worldwide today.
“Given the epidemic level ofOverweight and obesity, which we are currently observing, it is fundamental to understand the effects of weight changes on lung function. This is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in the general population. The good news is that the negative effects of overweight and obesity on lung health can be reversed through weight loss. Therefore, public health measures that promote healthy lifestyles may be key to good lung health.”
