A new study has found that fatty tissue can accumulate in the airways of people with obesity, possibly contributing to asthma and other respiratory problems.

New research suggests that fatty tissue accumulated in the airways may contribute to asthma in some cases.

In the United States, as well as across the world, obesity has become a top health issue. According to data cited by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, in the U.S. alone, more than one in three adults have obesity.

While this condition is associated with a heightened risk for many other health problems, it is unclear through which mechanisms it contributes to some of these issues.

One such mysterious link is that between obesity and asthma. Although researchers have provided different explanations for it, how obesity contributes to respiratory problems remains unclear.

Now a study whose results appear in the European Respiratory Journal shows that fatty tissue can accumulate in the airway walls. It explains how this may be problematic for people who are overweight or who have obesity, as it may contribute to the development of respiratory conditions, such as asthma.

"Our research team studies the structure of the airways within our lungs and how these are altered in people with respiratory disease," explains first author John Elliot, from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Australia.

"Looking at samples of lung, we spotted fatty tissue that had built up in the airway walls. We wanted to see if this accumulation was correlated with body weight," he continues.

http://www.gzjiayumed.com/en/index.asp