Weight reduction may help people with asthma

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

According to a new study, a molecule involved in inflammation may provide a link between asthma and obesity.
It's already known that asthma and obesity are on the increase around the world. And asthma is often more severe in people who are obese. A team at the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center in Houston, Texas, now say there could be a connection.

They looked at a molecule called eotaxin which is involved in inflammation and is known to play a key role in asthma. They found more eotaxin in mice fed a high fat diet and in obese humans. The eotaxin appears to be concentrated in the fat tissue around the abdomen which is characteristic of obesity. The researchers also found that weight loss in human led to a reduction in eotaxin levels. It may be that losing weight, especially around the abdomen, can help people improve their asthma.

Source
American Diabetes Association meeting 11th June 2005

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