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A groundbreaking study from researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden reveals a significant connection between children’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and their lung function as adults. Published in The European Respiratory Journal, the findings underscore the potential long-term health implications of abnormal BMI—whether high or low—during childhood.
According to the research, approximately one in ten children experiences impaired lung function development, which can hinder their ability to reach maximal lung capacity in adulthood. This condition heightens the risk of serious health issues, including cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and diabetes. The study draws on data from the BAMSE project, which has tracked over 4,000 children from birth to age 24.
Dr. Gang Wang, the study’s first author, emphasizes the importance of this long-term analysis: “In this study, the largest so far, we’ve been able to follow children from birth all the way to the age of 24, covering the entire period of lung function development.” The researchers found that abnormal BMI, particularly deviations from the norm, correlates strongly with impaired lung function.
Key Findings
The participants were categorized into different BMI groups, with distinctions emerging as early as age two. Children with a persistently high BMI or an accelerated increase in BMI demonstrated impaired lung function in adulthood, characterized by restricted airflow—a condition known as obstruction. Conversely, those who initially had a high BMI but achieved a normal BMI before puberty maintained healthy lung function into adulthood.
Professor Erik Melén, the principal investigator and a pediatrician at Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital, stresses the importance of early intervention: “This highlights how important it is to optimise children’s growth both early in life and during their early school years and adolescence.”
Interestingly, the study also points out that a consistently low BMI can lead to inadequate lung growth, further emphasizing the need for nutritional support for underweight children. “The focus has been on overweight, but we also need to capture children with a low BMI and introduce nutritional measures,” Dr. Wang added.
Comprehensive Data Analysis
The research involved rigorous analysis of BMI data collected at multiple intervals—up to 14 times—over the participants’ childhood and adolescence. Lung function was assessed using spirometry at ages 8, 16, and 24, with additional measurements taken to evaluate the function of smaller airways. The study also included urine sample analysis to explore metabolic markers associated with lung health.
Notably, urine samples from participants with high BMI revealed elevated levels of metabolites of the amino acid histidine, a finding that aligns with previous studies linking these metabolites to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. “We see here objective biomarkers for the correlation we’ve found, even if we don’t yet know exactly the molecular association between high BMI, histidine, and impaired lung development,” stated Professor Melén.
Conclusion
The research, funded by various organizations including the European Research Council and the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, emphasizes the crucial role of maintaining a healthy BMI in childhood to foster optimal lung development. These findings provide a strong rationale for early interventions and nutritional support programs aimed at promoting healthy growth trajectories for children.
As experts continue to explore the connections between BMI and lung health, this study paves the way for future research and public health initiatives targeting childhood obesity and undernutrition, ultimately striving for better health outcomes in adulthood.
