Increased Incidence of Asthma-Like Symptoms in Girls Who Become Overweight or Obese During the School Years

Abstract

Purpose of the Study. Recent cross-sectional studies have shown an association between obesity and an increased risk of asthma, especially in females. These authors used data from the Tucson Children’s Respiratory Study to search for an increase in asthma in children who became overweight between 6 and 11 years of age. Study Population. The participating children are a birth cohort enrolled between 1980 and 1984 and followed longitudinally. All are resident in the Tucson, Arizona, area. Methods. Symptom questionnaires were completed by parents when the children were 6, 8, 11, and 13 years of age. Weight and height were …