University of Virginia Health System

Asthma Risk Increases with Waist Size

Research has shown that obesity increases risk for asthma in adults, especially for women. Although few studies have researched if waist size alone also raises risk, a new study published in Thorax suggests it does.

Eight percent of the volunteers self-reported a diagnosis of asthma. Asthma rates were 6 percent among normal-weight women, 8 percent among overweight women, 11 percent among somewhat obese women, 13 percent among very obese women and 18 percent among extremely obese women. Weight categories were determined using body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

General and Abdominal Obesity Linked to Asthma Risk

Researchers also looked at asthma risk by waist size. Study participants with a waist larger than 35 inches were considered to have abdominal obesity. Even in normal-weight women, a large waist was linked with asthma risk. Those with abdominal obesity but a normal weight had a 37 percent higher risk for asthma compared with normal-weight women with a waist smaller than 35 inches. This risk level was similar to women who were overweight but not abdominally obese.

Rates of Abdominal Obesity Increasing

Abdominal obesity is increasing faster than overall obesity in the U.S. Sixty-one percent of U.S. women and 42 percent of men are considered abdominally obese (40 inches or larger for men; 35 inches or larger for women). In addition to higher asthma risk, larger waist size has been linked to increased risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

To measure your waist circumference, place a tape measure around your bare belly, just above your hip bone. Pull the tape snug without pinching and keep it parallel to the floor. Try to relax, exhale and measure your waist.

If your waist measures more than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men, talk with your doctor to find out if you should lose weight.

Need Help Losing Weight?

If you need to lose weight, here are some tips from the Weight-control Information Network:

• Keep a food diary to track how much you are eating.
• Shop only from your grocery list and avoid shopping when hungry.
• Store high-fat, high-sugar foods out of sight or don't keep them in your home.
• Serve smaller portions at home.
• At restaurants, eat only half your meal and ask to take the rest home.
• Eat at the dining-room table and turn off the television.
• Aim for a slow, modest weight loss of no more than 1 to 2 pounds per week. Expect setbacks and forgive yourself if you regain a few pounds.
• Seek support from family and friends.
• Add moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity to your weight-loss plan. Start by walking 10 minutes a day, three days a week. Build up slowly from there.
  

Get some tips on healthier eating from nutritionist Mary Lou Perry at the University of Virginia Health System's Club Red heart health site for women.

For more information about healthy lifestyles or other women's health issues, visit www.uvahealth.com.

Always consult your physician for more information.