Belly fat may lead to lung problems: Study

France, March 7: A latest study by French researchers suggests that belly fat can pose serious health risk to the lungs.

For long, abdominal obesity is believed to be the cause behind many health problems. Actually, abdominal obesity is nothing but a part of the metabolic syndrome that is characterized by low levels of HDL cholesterol (which is good for the heart) and high levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and triglycerides.

Anyone with three or more of the above conditions is thought to be having the metabolic syndrome; which can escalate the chances of heart disease, stroke and diabetes to a great extent.

The present study highlights the link between metabolic syndrome and degradation in the functioning of lungs.

For the study, researchers engaged around 120,000 people. These people then underwent a physical examination through blood tests. Their smoking status, waistlines and lung function were closely monitored.

The research showed that people with metabolic syndrome were 1.4 times more prone to developing lung function impairment as opposed to those without it.

But what really took the researchers by surprise was the fact that people with surplus belly fat were two times more susceptible to have impaired lung function, even if they had normal weight.

However, the researchers do not have a concrete explanation about the relation between fat bellies and breathing disorders. It may be possible that a large belly constrains the diaphragm and thus prevents the lungs from expanding easily or the surplus fat could result in body inflammation that may ultimately affect the lungs.

As per the conventional norms, a waistline greater than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men is an indication of abdominal obesity.

The study findings have been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.