The effect of asthma on fat mass and distribution in children with obesity

Introduction
Obesity and asthma are both common and comorbid conditions. Possible changes in fat distribution in the presence of asthma are currently unknown.

Aim
In this study, we aimed to compare fat and fat-free mass, and regional adiposity differences between children with obesity with and without asthma and between asthma phenotypes by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Material and methods
We designed a prospective cross-sectional study which was conducted on 60 children with obesity newly diagnosed with asthma and 60 controls with obesity. Eligible asthma patients underwent skin prick testing to detect atopy. Weight, height, body mass index, and standard deviation scores of these auxological data were recorded. Total body fat, fat-free, muscle mass percentages and segmental proportions of all participants were determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Results
Parameters such as age, pubertal stage, weight, height and body mass index, standard deviation scores did not show significant differences between the groups. There were no differences between the patients with asthma and controls in the comparison of total fat, fat-free and muscle mass percentages (p = 0.280, p = 0.267 and p = 0.302, respectively). Segmental body composition analysis indicate that there was no difference between the groups. There were no differences in percentages of fat mass, fat-free mass and muscle mass in children with asthma according to the presence of atopy.

Conclusions
Our study unexpectedly showed no significant differences in fat mass and distribution between children with obesity with and without asthma and asthma phenotypes. More studies are needed to evaluate the effects of asthma on adiposity.