Complex interactions in complex traits: obesity and asthma

Comparing the highest to the lowest quintile of BMI, the relative risk of asthma during that time was 2.3 (95% CI 1.3 to 4.1) in boys and 1.5 (95% CI 0.9 to 2.6) in girls. 25 Introductory article The study by Stenius-Aarniala and colleagues 26 is the first of its kind to evaluate the effects of medi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Thorax 2001-09, Vol.56 (suppl 2), p.ii64-ii73
Main Authors: Tantisira, K G, Weiss, S T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asthma - etiology
Asthma - genetics
Birth weight
Body mass index
Health risk assessment
Humans
Obesity
Obesity - complications
Obesity - genetics
Risk Factors
Studies
Weight Loss - physiology
Womens health
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Summary:Comparing the highest to the lowest quintile of BMI, the relative risk of asthma during that time was 2.3 (95% CI 1.3 to 4.1) in boys and 1.5 (95% CI 0.9 to 2.6) in girls. 25 Introductory article The study by Stenius-Aarniala and colleagues 26 is the first of its kind to evaluate the effects of medical weight loss on a variety of asthma outcome measures.\n 195 Low birth weight has also been associated with centripetal obesity in adolescents 198 and adults. 199-201 At the other extreme of birth weight, fetal macrosomia has been associated with the subsequent accumulation of excess subcutaneous fat in childhood 202 and the development of obesity as adults. 203 One plausible biochemical link between these apparently disparate associations is leptin. Barkeret al noted that lower birth weight was associated with lower lung function and increased risk of death from obstructive airways disease in adults. 207 Since then, consistent reports of associations between low birth weight and an increased risk of asthma have appeared. 15 208-213 The mechanism behind this relationship may be a compromised development of the lungs. 207 214 215 Asthma has not been associated with high birth weights, although asthma 216 and increased IgE levels 217-220 have been correlated with large head circumference at birth.
ISSN:0040-6376
1468-3296