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A new study has found that a high waist circumference is strongly associated with decreased lung function independent of smoking history, sex, body mass index (BMI) and other complicating factors.

The study analyzed health information on more that 120,000 people from the Paris Investigations Preventives et Cliniques Center, and assessed demographic background, smoking history, alcohol consumption, as well as lung function, including FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) and FVC (forced vital capacity, or the total expiratory volume) with respect to BMI, waist circumference and other measures of metabolic health.

The results were published in the second issue for March of the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

"After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, leisure time physical activity and cardiovascular history, metabolic syndrome remained independently associated with lung function impairment," wrote lead author Natalie Leone, M.D., of French National Institute for Health and Medical Research. "We found a positive independent relationship between lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome due mainly to abdominal obesity."

Abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist circumference of greater than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.

The researchers also found a significant interaction between metabolic syndrome and smoking status, with estimated lung function impairment risk in current and former smokers being higher than in those who never smoked.

"Prospective studies are needed to determine the temporal relationship between lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome, including abdominal adiposity in particular. Mechanistic studies are also required to clarify the underlying physiopathological pathways," concluded Dr. Leone.

While more research will undoubtedly shed light on the underlying mechanisms linking abdominal fat to lowered lung function, there is an immediate clinical consideration:

"I believe there is now enough evidence to recommend that waist circumference always be measured before spirometry tests. Abdominal obesity could then be highlighted on the printed report so that the physician interpreting the report could take the effect of obesity into account," wrote Dr. Enright.

Labels: lung dieases, obesity, weight gain

An ongoing battle in my marriage stems from my perception of myself; and sometimes vice versa. I know we're not the only couple like this, but somehow that doesn't help things does it?

This evening on msn.com there is an article about how men love a woman's body even if they don't love it.

Christine M. Coppa writes, "Tall, short, plump or petite, one thing is universal—no matter what a woman’s shape, there’s a man out there who’ll appreciate it! To prove our point, listen to what these guys have to say, and feel your confidence soar… no matter what your body type."

She goes on to share the opinions of several men. One guy talks about his plus-size wife and how it is a "plus" in every sense of the word. I'm not condoning being overweight because there are health concerns when you become obese, however, I do think it is wonderful to know a man feels that way about his wife.

I know my husband thinks I'm attractive. But I dislike my appearance so much that when he compliments me I'm almost turned off. Why am I this way? If someone tells me I am hot or pretty or whatever, why do I cringe?

Well the article doesn't dabble in crazy wives who have low self-esteem, but it does have many super sweet opinions from several different men. To the girls they speak about, be sure to give them a little bit of loving tonight. =o)

SOURCE

Labels: men, self image, weight gain, women

Last night I ate a bowl of cereal for dinner, a FiberOne cereal, the honey flavor, it's really good. Anyway, the back of the box had all this content about eating healthy and such. There was an entire paragraph devoted to how eating a bowl of cereal at breakfast can actually help you maintain a proper body weight.

Then this morning I see an article about the very same topic at WomensHealthMagazine.com, coincidence, I think not. It's a fact, a truth known to Mom's forever I might add. But since research and data has been "officially" collected now then I suppose there will be less eye-rolling, I don't know.

"Researchers from the University of Minnesota studied the eating and exercise habits of 2,216 teens for five years and found that the more often a person ate breakfast, the lower the (Body Mass Index) BMI."

Read more at Journal Watch >>

Labels: breakfast, children, obesity, weight gain