Gain in lung function after weight reduction in severely obese children

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2012-12, Vol.97 (12), p.1039-1042
• Main Authors: van de Griendt, E J, van der Baan-Slootweg, O H, van Essen-Zandvliet, E E M, van der Palen, J, Tamminga-Smeulders, C L J, Benninga, M A, van Aalderen, W M C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Asthma; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition; Body fat; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Child; Childhood obesity; Children; Cohort Studies; Demographic aspects; Exercise; Female; General aspects; Humans; Intelligence tests; Lung - physiopathology; lung function; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Miscellaneous; Obesity; Obesity in children; Obesity, Morbid - physiopathology; Obesity, Morbid - therapy; Patients; Prevention and actions; Prospective Studies; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; pulmonary function testing; Pulmonary Ventilation; Respiratory function; Respiratory Function Tests; Studies; Weight control; Weight loss; Weight Loss - physiology
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2011-301304

Aim The primary objective of this prospective cohort study was to determine the effect of weight loss on pulmonary function values in extremely obese children. Methods Obese children participated in a 26-week in-hospital or outpatient multidisciplinary treatment programme. Waist circumference was measured and pulmonary function tests were performed at enrolment and after 6 months. Results The data of 112 children were analysed. The children had a mean age of 14.4 (range 8.5–18.9) years and 62.5% were girls. The mean SD score-body mass index (SDS-BMI) was +3.38 at baseline and +2.91 after the intervention. Lung function improved significantly: functional vital capacity increased by 3.08% (95% CI 1.16% to 5.00%) of the predicted value, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) by 2.91% (95% CI 1.11% to 4.71%) of the predicted value, total lung capacity by 2.27% (95% CI 1.16% to 5.00%) of the predicted value, and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) by 14.8% (95% CI 8.66% to 20.88%) of the predicted value. The increase in ERV correlated with the reduction in SDS-BMI and with the reduction in waist circumference. FEV1 did not correlate with the reduction in either SDS-BMI or waist circumference. Conclusions Weight loss in severely obese children correlated with an improvement in lung function, especially ERV. The improvement in ERV correlated with the decrease in SDS-BMI and waist circumference.