HHS HealthBeat (October 26, 2011)

Kids, weight and asthma

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Growing up with excess weight may increase the risk of having asthma as a young adult. Allergy physician Minto Porter of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit saw that in data on more than 800 young people.

``The persistence of obesity between 5 to 6 years of age and 18 increased your risk of asthma as a young adult by two and one half times.’’  (8 seconds)

Porter also found that children who were overweight at 6 to 8 years and who then became normal weight did not have the higher risk.  

She says that to help kids keep weight under control, eating and being physically active should be family activities.

The study supported by the National Institutes of Health was presented at a meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: October 26, 2011