I just read this interesting article from WebMD. Here's a quote:
July 13, 2006 -- A lung-irritating protein made by fat cells may be the missing link between obesity and asthma, say Australian researchers.The article goes on to say that there's a protein made by fat cells that causes inflammation of the lungs which then worsens asthma. This is very interesting because if this protein can really be isolated, then more treatment options may be coming along for those with asthma.Obesity makes it about three times more likely a person will have asthma. And when obese people with asthma lose weight, their asthma gets better, says Michael Rolph, PhD, one of the researchers on the study.
I'm seeing more and more kids overweight and more and more kids having diseases like asthma and diabetes and others. There are many scattered theories on the origins of the obesity epidemic, but unfortunately, there is not united agreement on a solution to this problem.
(Don't forget, Grand Rounds is tomorrow. And, a little birdie told me that my submit made the cut. Hmmmm.... Stay tuned to find out.)