A groundbreaking study shows fat can accumulate in lung airways, potentially explaining higher asthma rates among overweight individuals.
Obesity has long been associated with asthma and respiratory issues, but the exact connection eluded researchers—until now. Scientists from the University of Australia report that adipose tissue builds up in the airway walls of overweight people, sparking inflammation and asthma symptoms.
Published in the European Respiratory Journal, this research examined postmortem lungs from 52 individuals: 15 without asthma, 21 with asthma who died from other causes, and 16 who succumbed to the respiratory condition. Over 1,300 airway wall samples were analyzed.
The team discovered adipose tissue in bronchial walls, particularly in those with elevated body mass index (BMI). The accumulation was proportional—the higher the BMI, the more fat deposited, altering airway structure and promoting lung inflammation.
“We found that excess fat accumulates in the walls of the bronchi, takes up space there and appears to increase inflammation in the lungs,” explains lead author Peter Noble from the University of Australia. “We believe this causes thickening of the bronchial tubes which restricts airflow into the lungs. This could at least partially explain increased asthma symptoms.”
While promising, the study's small sample size calls for larger-scale research, ideally on living subjects. Weight loss may offer a path to easing asthma in obese individuals.
Globally, overweight affects 1.4 billion people over age 20 (6.5 million people), claiming nearly three million lives yearly.
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