The Impact of Childhood Obesity on Lung Function: A Retrospective Study of Chinese Children
نویسندگان
1 Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, China
2 Department of Pain Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
3 Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, China
4 Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, China
doi
10.22034/ircmj.2025.529310.2244چکیده
Background and Objectives: The global epidemic of childhood obesity is escalating, with China reporting the highest incidence among children. Obesity is associated with respiratory health impairments; however, its relationship with lung function in pediatric populations remains controversial. This study aims to investigate the correlation between lung function and childhood obesity. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 666 Chinese children with obesity aged 5 to 17 years, admitted to a tertiary pediatric hospital in China, comprising 471 boys and 195 girls. Lung function was assessed using standardized spirometry, with abnormalities defined according to American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) recommendations. Multifactorial linear regression analysis and multivariable logistic regression were employed to analyze the correlations between obesity indices and lung function. Results: The prevalence of abnormal lung function in children with obesity was 32.88% with a peak in the 10 to 14 age group. Children with severe obesity had higher rates of lung function abnormalities compared to those with mild obesity (41.24% vs. 32.48%, P < 0.05). Obstructive ventilatory defects were more common, particularly in boys. Metabolic comorbidities were frequent, with dyslipidemia (65.75%), hyperuricemia (59.36%), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (45.66%) being the most prevalent. In boys, body composition indices, such as waist circumference instead of BMI, were closely associated with lung function parameters, while in girls, this association was not observed. In boys, severe obesity and hypertension were independently associated with the risk of abnormal lung function; in girls, liver injury, triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) showed independent associations. Conclusion: The high prevalence of abnormal lung function (32.88%) among Chinese children with obesity underscores its clinical significance. Importantly, gender-specific screening—focusing on abdominal obesity in boys and lipid profiles in girls—may enhance the early detection of obesity-related pulmonary impairment.
