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Obesity in Asthma: Approaches to Treatment

  • ASTHMA (WJ CALHOUN AND SP PETERS, SECTION EDITORS)
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Abstract

There is mounting evidence that obesity is associated with asthma, both of which are seeing a dramatic increase in prevalence. Not only is obesity a risk factor for the development of asthma but it is also associated with poor asthma control. Asthma phenotypes associated with obesity include early-onset allergic asthma and late-onset non-allergic asthma. The pathogenesis of the linkage is complex; obesity causes a variety of mechanical, metabolic, and immunological changes that can affect the airways. The treatment of asthma in obesity can be challenging, as obesity is associated with poor response to standard controller medications. A tailored approach that involves combining pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies including weight loss, dietary interventions, and exercise, along with identification and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, should therefore be considered in this population.

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Acknowledgment

Anne E. Dixon has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health.

Conflict of Interest

Anne E. Dixon has served as a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim.

Shyamala Pradeepan and Garth Garrison declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital Newcastle, Lookout Road, New Lambton, NSW, 2305, Australia

    Shyamala Pradeepan

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Given D208, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    Garth Garrison & Anne E. Dixon

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  1. Shyamala Pradeepan
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Pradeepan, S., Garrison, G. & Dixon, A.E. Obesity in Asthma: Approaches to Treatment. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 13, 434–442 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-013-0354-z

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