Obesity and Asthma: Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation

Children and adults with overweight and obesity are at higher risk of incident asthma. Obesity may also lead to worse asthma morbidity and severity. While the relationship between obesity and asthma is complex and may be in some cases bidirectional, in this chapter we will focus on the epidemiological evidence linking obesity to incident asthma. We will also discuss the changes in lung function seen in individuals with obesity, and how those changes may differ in children and adults.