Effects of obesity on lung volume and capacity in children and adolescents: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective:To assess the effects of obesity on lung volume and capacity in children and adolescents.Data source:This is a systematic review, carried out in Pubmed, Lilacs, Scielo and PEDro databases, using the following Keywords: Plethysmography; Whole Body OR Lung Volume Measurements OR Total Lung Capacity OR Functional Residual Capacity OR Residual Volume AND Obesity. Observational studies or clinical trials that assessed the effects of obesity on lung volume and capacity in children and adolescents (0-18 years) without any other associated disease; in English; Portuguese and Spanish languages were selected. Methodological quality was assessed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Data synthesis:Of the 1,030 articles, only four were included in the review. The studies amounted to 548 participants, predominantly males, with sample size ranging from 45 to 327 individuals. 100% of the studies evaluated nutritional status through BMI (z-score) and 50.0% reported the data on abdominal circumference. All demonstrated that obesity causes negative effects on lung volume and capacity, causing a reduction mainly in functional residual capacity in 75.0% of the studies; in the expiratory reserve volume in 50.0% and in the residual volume in 25.0%. The methodological quality ranged from moderate to high, with 75.0% of the studies classified as having high methodological quality.Conclusions:Obesity causes deleterious effects on lung volume and capacity in children and adolescents, mainly by reducing functional residual capacity, expiratory reserve volume and residual volume.

Childhood obesity: Aetiology, comorbidities, and treatment

“…It is estimated that the costs associated with the medical care of overweight or obese children in the United States exceeds 1400 billion dollars per year . Statistics in South American population vary according to the age group, geographic location, and socio‐economic stratum (Brazil, 2.4%‐19.2%; Argentina, 10.4%; Colombia, 7.6%) …”

“…It is known that childhood obesity negatively affects the pulmonary mechanics of the paediatric patient and that it is a risk factor for respiratory morbidity as it can trigger alterations such as a reduction in total lung volume, laryngotracheal stenoses, decreased thoracic expansion, hypertrophy of hard palate, and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome . In patients with obesity, there may be a reduced functional aerobic capacity, and some studies indicate increased airway resistance compared with normal values .…”

“…Childhood obesity has become a serious public health problem worldwide because it is associated with both short‐ and long‐term comorbidities such as insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome (MS), arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, and psychological problems during childhood and adolescence, which result in a definite higher risk of early mortality in adult life mainly due to cardiovascular events . The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as a condition of abnormality in the content of body fat or an excess of fatty tissue, which affects or deteriorates the health condition of an individual . In children under the age of 2 years or whose height is more than 2 standard deviations below the population average, the definition of obesity is carried out through weight for height, taking into account international reference tables National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)/World Health Organization (WHO) considering the following:…”

Prediction of vital capacity by BMI and tidal volume in healthy teens.

“…5 They are also in a state of subclinical inflammatory insult due to increase in number of adipose tissue in the body which leads to increase release of inflammatory markers and cytokines resulting in bronchial hyperactivity. 6 Obese people tend to have a rapid and shallow breathing pattern similar to patients of neuromuscular disorders and chest wall deformity this leads to higher respiratory rate but reduction in tidal volume (TV). 7 Dynamic lung volumes like VC are often normal but in a retrospective study, they have found a 75% decrease in vital capacity in morbidly obese person.…”

Associação entre o nível socioeconômico e o consumo alimentar de crianças com idade escolar matriculadas na rede pública de ensino do município de Maringá-PR

“…2 Nos últimos 20 anos, a mudança de comportamento das famílias em relação a seus hábitos alimentares tem afetado as crianças, com o aumento do consumo de alimentos com elevado teor energético e de sódio, associados à pobreza em ferro, cálcio e fibra, associado ao sedentarismo. 3 A promoção aos bons hábitos alimentares no ambiente escolar tem sido recomendada por órgãos internacionais, 4 desta maneira, deveriam ser implementados desde a infância. Para a avaliação do padrão alimentar das crianças, o estudo da composição da dieta é fundamental para a manutenção do estado nutricional adequado.…”