International Journal of Obesity 2006: 30; 111–1118
G Hasler, P J Gergen, V Ajdacic, A Gamma, D Eich, W Rössler, and J Angst
There is increasing evidence for an association between asthma and body weight change. This collaborative study involving centres in the USA and Switzerland examined the relationship between asthma and obesity.
Information was gleaned from six semistructured interviews on health habits and health conditions from a community study of 591 young adults followed up between ages 20 and 40 years.
Over the whole study period, asthma was significantly associated with obesity. Analyses revealed that asthma was associated with increased weight gain and obesity in later life (whereas weight gain and obesity were not associated with later onset asthma). A secondary analysis showed that depressive symptoms during childhood were associated with adult obesity and asthma, partially explaining the asthma–obesity comorbidity.
This study encourages further research on mechanisms underlying the asthma–obesity comorbidity, particularly on factors operating during critical periods in childhood and adolescence that may influence the development and persistence of both obesity and asthma during adulthood.
