Obesity and Asthma: A Dangerous Link in Children: An Integrative Review of the Literature

Obesity and asthma are significant public health problems, both with increasing prevalence in children. During 1980 to 1994 the prevalence of childhood obesity increased 100%, while the prevalence of self-reported asthma in children increased 75%. One common assumption is that weight gain occurs because many asthmatic patients avoid exercise since physical activity can trigger their symptoms; however, many contributing factors coexist. The intrinsic mechanism of obesity and asthma and their association is unclear. The purpose of this integrative review is to explore the link between obesity and childhood asthma, synthesizing its findings for clinical application.