COPD: Belly fat damages the lungs

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MunichFat - especially that in the abdomen - sends inflammatory substances into the body. A recent study shows that they also damage the lungs. Those who are full around the waist are more likely to develop the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. This applies to smokers and non-smokers alike.

More belly, bad lungs

For the study, the scientists led by Gundula Behrens from the University of Regensburg evaluated data from more than 113,000 people between 50 and 70 years of age. At the beginning of the study, none of them suffered from COPD, cancer or cardiovascular disease. In the ten years that followed, 3,648 of the participants developed COPD. Those who had a larger waistline were 72 percent more likely to get sick. For women this means a waist circumference of 110 centimeters or more, for men 118 centimeters or more.

Movement protects the lungs

"We found a stronger connection between COPD and belly fat than with the total amount of body fat," says study leader Behrens. This was especially true of participants who did not move much. Conversely, people with a larger waist size could reduce their risk of COPD by almost 30 percent if they were physically active at least five times a week.

Dangerous belly fat

It has long been known that fat that accumulates in the abdomen is dangerous. Compared to fat deposits in other parts of the body, it forms a particularly large number of inflammatory substances that can damage the blood vessels, for example. The current study shows that the lungs suffer too. "Larger fat deposits increasingly lead to inflammatory reactions that can promote the development of COPD," the authors write.

However, underweight participants also carried a 56 percent higher risk of COPD than those of normal weight. Here the researchers suspect that poor nutrition and reduced muscle mass increase the risk of COPD.

“Our results show that, in addition to giving up cigarettes, weight, body shape and physical activity are important health factors that can reduce the risk of COPD,” the authors write.

Unknown danger

COPD is a collective term for a group of diseases of the lungs that are associated with chronic coughing, increased expectoration and shortness of breath. COPD is irreversible - i.e. not traceable and can have fatal consequences.

Although the disease already ranks fourth in the list of the most common causes of death, a large proportion of Germans do not know what to do with the term COPD. It is better known as a smoker's cough, as COPD is also popularly known. In addition, not everyone with COPD has also smoked. In addition to being overweight, passive smoking or massive air pollution, especially during work, can irreversibly damage the lungs. (cf)

Source: Gundula Behrens et al: Body size and physical activity in relation to incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. CMAJ, July 2014 DOI: 10.1503 / cmaj.140025

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