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- Study found those with largest waist sizes more likely to develop lung disease<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Obese<\/strong> people, particularly those with excess belly fat<\/strong>, may face a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)<\/strong>, a new study suggests.<\/p>\n
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The researchers report that women with a waist size of roughly 43 inches or more and men with waist size of 46 inches or more showed a 72 percent increased risk of developing the lung disease<\/strong>, compared with people who had a normal waist size.<\/p>\n
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COPD<\/strong>, also known as emphysema <\/strong>and chronic bronchitis<\/strong>, is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Lung Association.<\/p>\n
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“It is already known that COPD <\/strong>may be prevented by avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke, air pollution and occupational dust damaging the lungs,” said lead researcher Gundula Behrens<\/strong>, from the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Regensburg<\/strong> in Germany.<\/p>\n
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“But maintaining a normal waist circumference and recommended levels of physical activity may also decrease the risk of COPD<\/strong>,” Behrens said.<\/p>\n
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According to recommendations of the World Health Organization<\/strong>, waist circumference should not exceed 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men.<\/p>\n
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The investigators also found that people who were physically active five times or more per week had a 29 percent decreased risk of COPD,<\/strong> compared with people who were physically inactive.<\/p>\n
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The American College of Sports Medicine<\/strong> recommends 30 minutes to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five times per week or 20 minutes to 60 minutes of vigorous exercise at least three days per week, Behrens noted.<\/p>\n
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For the study, published July 7 in\u00a0CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)<\/em><\/strong>, Behrens and colleagues collected data on more than 113,000 Americans, aged 50 to 70, who did not have COPD, cancer<\/strong> or heart disease at the beginning of the study in 1995.<\/p>\n
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Over 10 years of follow-up, over 3,600 people developed COPD<\/strong>. Waist size was a strong predictor of COPD<\/strong> risk whether the individual was a smoker or had never smoked, the study authors noted.<\/p>\n
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However, Dr. Norman Edelman, senior medical consultant<\/strong> to the American Lung Association<\/strong>, noted that the findings are far from conclusive.<\/p>\n
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“At this point, I think it’s possible that it’s just an association without a causal effect,” he said. “The link between the association is that both COPD<\/strong> and obesity<\/strong> cause shortness of breath.”<\/p>\n
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But Edelman noted that for someone who is obese <\/strong>and smokes, smoking is the primary culprit.<\/p>\n
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“Smoking overrides everything — smoking is still the major risk factor for COPD<\/strong>,” he said.<\/p>\n
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On the other end of the scale, underweight people had a 56 percent increased risk of COPD<\/strong>, the study authors found. This might be the result of malnutrition and reduced muscle mass or inflammation that reduces the ability of the lungs to heal themselves, Behrens said.<\/p>\n