Does weight affect asthma

hi i just woundering is been over or under weight can affect your asthma, make it worse?

xChloex

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I am not sure about being under weight effecting your asthma, but I am sure if you put on a lot of weight then this would, as it effects everything about you.

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Being over weight defo does its makes you more unfit and less able to exercise and if like me weight is from steroids so alot is arround torso then it puts alot of external pressure on your lungs.

Andrea xxx

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Being over weight puts extra pressure on lungs anyway so if you have asthma as well as being over weight its not good for your heart either. For people on long term steroids that increase weight gain I believe its a long term battle. Being underweight leaves you less able to cope with infections that might occur due to asthma.

I think asthma uk have also recently published some research as well that says being over weight increases asthma risk.

Tks xx

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I weigh approx just over a stone less than recommended for height and gender.

My asthma is as uncontrolled at certain times as it was when I weighed over recommended height re body mass index (BMI ) Incidentally, could also run much faster when ‘overweight’ according to BMI than when now ‘underweight’

Being either over or under weight is not a causal reason for asthma. But either situation will affect pre existing asthma conditions.

If you are heavier than currently ‘agreed’ criteria, - such as those relating to BMI, then obviously there will be an extra strain on the heart and joints. Adding asthma triggers won’t help the efficiency of either the respiratory or pulmonary systems.

My nan –hospital matron in her day - always used to say that it was better to be a little bit ‘overweight’ rather than underweight, - whatever that might mean in today’s weird media obsession with supposedly ‘normal’ weight. She observed that it was always the ‘thin’ ones that caught infections earlier on than ‘fatter’ ones, and they took longer to recover. If at all.

Suppose you have to aim for the middle ground. Neither skinny, or fat. Both ends of the spectrum include future health issues. Each one no better or worse than the other. Just different.

Mia

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I too agree with the view. Overweight affects asthma. Infact, if you can control your weight by giving sufficient amount of physical activity, this would reduce generation of fat in the body. Therefore the burden on heart and lungs would be lighter. That helps in breathing freely.

I generally get attacks when I do not exercise for a prolonged period, also it adds up to a lot of frustration and restlessness mentally.

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I agree with what others have said re: being under and overweight. I've recently lost 5 stone (still got one or two stone left to go) I've not found my asthma improve (that's been down to taking the right meds and having an asthma plan) but I find that if I have an attack coupled with a chest infection I recover quicker. I think it must be because I'm not putting as much strain on my heart and lungs as I was.

When I first went to the chest clinic at the hospital they were trying to establish why my asthma had suddenly gone haywire. They said that sudden weight loss or gain can sometimes contribute to worsening symptoms. They ruled that out for me as I'd put on my 5 stone over 3 years. It was only when another Dr told me to loose some weight to help my asthma I did something about it. I've just got to keep it off now.

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Thank u for replying, my BMI is curently 16.3 i no that is underwiegth but i don't no how much. My mums been nagging at me 2 eat more ect and she says its probaly affecting my asthma so i was woundering if it could.

thanks u

xChloex

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Years ago I lost 2 stone of weight when my asthma was mild and mainly triggered by exercise and I did have a noticeable improvement, but now my asthma is triggered by so many things my weight doesn't seem to make much difference but then as I am struggling to lose the weight again I haven't yet had the chance to find out.

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My current bmi is 28.5 - and I'm 5ft 1. But my weight gain like a lot of people on here, has been due to my increased steroids. Also I have a degenerative knee condition and am classed as physically disabled due to other illnesses so exercise for me is very difficult - but my diet is fine.