How does obesity affect the severity of asthma?

The link between obesity and asthma is well established in medical literature. Obesity can lead to decreased lung function due to several physiological reasons. Excess body weight can contribute to a restrictive lung pattern, as the additional fat can limit the flexibility of the chest wall, making it harder for the lungs to expand fully during inhalation. This can result in reduced lung volumes and impaired respiratory mechanics.

In addition, obesity is often associated with chronic systemic inflammation, which can exacerbate airway inflammation typical of asthma. The inflammatory mediators that are prevalent in individuals with obesity can aggravate asthma symptoms, leading to increased wheezing, shortness of breath, and exacerbations.

On the other hand, options suggesting that obesity leads to less inflammation or improves asthma management do not align with evidence, as obesity does not negate the inflammatory processes associated with asthma. Furthermore, indicating that obesity has no effect on asthma overlooks the significant research indicating the detrimental impact obesity has on asthma severity and control.