'Love handles' associated with lung problems
'Love handles' associated with lung problems
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Friday, 06, Mar 2009 08:41
People who carry excess weight around their waists, affectionately referred to as having love handles, are putting increased strain on their lungs, research shows.
A report published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Medicine today found a high weight circumference is strongly associated with decreased lung function.
The study looked at health information relating to over 120,000 people from the Paris Investigations Preventives et Cliniques Center.
Lead author Natalie Leone, from the French national institute for health and medical research, said in a statement: "After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, alcohol consumption, leisure time physical activity and cardiovascular history, metabolic syndrome remained independently associated with lung function impairment.
"We found a positive independent relationship between lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome due mainly to abdominal obesity."
Researchers defined abdominal obesity as having a waist circumference of greater than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.
They claim the condition could mechanically affect the diaphragm and chest wall compliance with decreased lung volumes.
While they admit more research will "undoubtedly" shed light on the underlying mechanisms linking abdominal fat to lowered lung function, the report claims there is an immediate clinical consideration.
"I believe there is now enough evidence to recommend that waist circumference always be measured before spirometry [measurement of breath] tests," Dr Leone concludes.
"Abdominal obesity could then be highlighted on the printed report so that the physician interpreting the report could take the effect of obesity into account," the authors add.