The effect of obesity on lung function

Abstract

<div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="S1"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d5027508e109">Introduction:</h5> <p id="P1">There is a major epidemic of obesity, and many obese patients suffer with respiratory symptoms and disease. The overall impact of obesity on lung function is multi-factorial, related to mechanical and inflammatory aspects of obesity. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="S2"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d5027508e114">Areas Covered:</h5> <p id="P2">Obesity causes substantial changes to the mechanics of the lungs and chest wall, these mechanical changes cause asthma and asthma-like symptoms such as dyspnea, wheeze and airway hyperresponsiveness. Excess adiposity is also associated with increased production of inflammatory cytokines and immune cells that may also lead to disease. This article reviews the literature addressing the relationship between obesity and lung function, and studies addressing how the mechanical and inflammatory effects of obesity might lead to changes in lung mechanics and pulmonary function in obese adults and children. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="S3"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d5027508e119">Expert Commentary:</h5> <p id="P3">Obesity has significant effects on respiratory function, which contribute significantly to the burden of respiratory disease. These mechanical effects are not readily quantified with conventional pulmonary function testing and measurement of BMI. Changes in mediators produced by adipose tissue likely also contribute to altered lung function, though as of yet this is poorly understood. </p> </div>