Study finds belly fat makes breathing harder

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Study finds belly fat makes breathing harder

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5250UF20090306

Carrying excess weight around the middle can impair lung function, adding to a

long list of health problems associated with belly fat, French researchers said

on Friday.

Abdominal obesity is already linked with diabetes, high blood pressure and heart

disease as part of a cluster of health problems known collectively as metabolic

syndrome.

Researchers have now shown that a large waist measurement is strongly associated

with decreased lung function, regardless of other complicating factors that

affect the lungs such as overall obesity and smoking.

The researchers analyzed health information about 120,000 people in France,

assessing demographic background, smoking history, alcohol consumption, as well

as lung function with respect to a measure of obesity known as body mass index,

waist circumference and other measures of metabolic health.

" We found a positive independent relationship between lung function impairment

and metabolic syndrome due mainly to abdominal obesity, " Dr. Leone of

the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research wrote in the

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The researchers defined abdominal obesity as having a waist circumference of

greater than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.

Several large studies have linked poor lung function with higher rates of deaths

and hospitalization from heart disease, the researchers said.

While it was not clear from the study, the researchers think belly fat may

impair the way the diaphragm and chest function. Fat tissue is also known to

increase inflammation in the body, which may be playing a role, they said.

Although the reasons may not be clear, Dr. Enright of the University of

Arizona said in a commentary there is now enough evidence to include waist

measurements as part of routine assessments of lung function.

" Abdominal obesity could then be highlighted on the printed report so that the

physician interpreting the report could take the effect of obesity into

account, " Enright wrote.