Obesity and adiposity indicators, asthma, and atopy in Puerto Rican children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Whether adiposity indicators other than body mass index (BMI) should be used in studies of childhood asthma is largely unknown. The role of atopy in "obese asthma" is also unclear.

Objectives

To examine the relationship among adiposity indicators, asthma, and atopy in Puerto Rican children, and to assess whether atopy mediates the obesity-asthma association.

Methods

In a study of Puerto Rican children with (n = 351) and without (n = 327) asthma, we measured BMI, percent of body fat, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. The outcomes studied included asthma, lung function, measures of atopy, and, among cases, indicators of asthma severity or control. We performed mediation analysis to assess the contribution of atopy to the relationship between adipos

SUBMITTER: Forno E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4013276 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature