Obesity and childhood asthma: Is there a relationship?

Increase in the prevalence of both asthma and obesity has been observed in recent years. However, there is still contradictory research as to possible contributing factors to the relationship and the effect of obesity on asthma management outcomes. This study investigates the relationship between obesity and childhood asthma, while controlling for physical activity, television watching, and selected demographic characteristics. Data from the 2005 and 2006 North Carolina Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program (CHAMP) Survey were analyzed for children age 10 to 17 for whom BMI could be calculated. Logistic regression models were used to test the significance of the relationship between obesity in asthmatic children and asthma management and behavior outcomes. There were about twice as many children with asthma who were obese than those who were not obese (lifetime asthma: 29.1% vs. 15.8%, current asthma: 19.8% vs. 9.1%). Obesity was significantly related to lifetime asthma [OR=2.15 (CI=1.62-2.86) p<.0001] and current asthma [OR=2.30 (CI=1.63-3.24) p<.0001], even after controlling for physical activity, television watching time, age, gender, and race. No significant relationship was found between obesity and use of daily asthma medication, use of rescue medication, or emergency room/urgent care clinic visit. Although the results indicate a strong relationship between obesity and childhood asthma, further studies, including prospective investigations, are needed to explore the onset/timing of these two conditions, as well as explanatory mechanisms or causal processes for the relationship.