Prospective Evaluation of Obesity-Related Asthma and Response to Weight Reduction

Abstract

Obesity is increasingly recognized as a key comorbidity that worsens asthma control, reduces lung function, and blunts therapeutic response. This prospective interventional study evaluated the clinical and functional impact of structured weight reduction in obese adults with asthma. Eighty patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m² and physician-diagnosed asthma were enrolled and followed for 12 months. Participants underwent a comprehensive weight-reduction program involving calorie-restricted diet, supervised aerobic exercise, and behavioral counseling. Asthma control, lung function, and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed at baseline, six months, and twelve months using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), spirometry, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Of the 80 participants, 72 completed follow-up. Mean BMI decreased from 33.8 ± 3.2 kg/m² to 29.6 ± 2.7 kg/m² (p < 0.001), accompanied by significant improvement in ACT scores (from 15.3 ± 3.4 to 21.1 ± 2.9) and FEV₁ (% predicted) (from 68.5 ± 11.8 to 77.9 ± 10.5). Serum hs-CRP and IL-6 levels showed marked reduction, indicating decreased systemic inflammation. The degree of weight loss correlated positively with improvements in asthma control and pulmonary function. The findings suggest that structured weight reduction leads to meaningful improvement in clinical outcomes and inflammatory status in obese adults with asthma. Integrating lifestyle-based weight management into standard asthma care may substantially enhance disease control and patient quality of life.