Childhood Obesity Linked to Increased COPD Risk in Adulthood

Synopsis

A recent study indicates that children who are overweight or obese may face an increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood. This research emphasizes the long-term health implications of childhood obesity.

Key Takeaways

Overweight children may face increased COPD risk.
Study links childhood BMI with adult lung disease.
Women with obesity face up to 65% higher risk.
Longitudinal data from over 276,000 Danish children.
Research to be presented at ECO 2025 in Malaga.

New Delhi, March 22 (NationPress) Children who are overweight or obese may face a heightened risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) later in life, as revealed by a recent study.

COPD is a progressive lung condition that hinders breathing and deteriorates over time.

While smoking is a significant contributor to COPD, other factors such as environmental, occupational, and even early-life influences are gaining recognition.

The research, spearheaded by scientists from Copenhagen University in Denmark, investigates the correlation between elevated body mass index (BMI) during childhood and the onset of COPD.

The findings indicate that women with a childhood BMI above average face a 10 percent increased risk of chronic COPD compared to their peers with an average BMI.

For women classified as overweight, the risk escalates to 26 percent, while those identified as obese face a staggering 65 percent higher risk.

In men, the risks of COPD were found to be 7 percent higher for those with an above-average childhood BMI, with 16 percent higher risk for those with an overweight trajectory and 40 percent higher risk for those with an obesity trajectory.

Conversely, women with a below-average childhood BMI trajectory exhibited a reduced risk of future COPD, showing a 9 percent lower risk compared to women with an average childhood BMI.

Frida Richter, from the Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, stated, “Having a BMI trajectory above average in childhood may increase the risk of subsequent COPD. Thus, our results suggest that being overweight during this early period of life is an indicator of risk for the development of COPD.”

The study analyzed data from 276,747 Danish children (137,493 girls) born between 1930 and 1982, who had between 2 and 12 weight and height measurements recorded during ages 6 to 15 years.

These individuals were subsequently monitored for a COPD diagnosis starting at age 40.

The findings will be shared at the upcoming European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) scheduled to take place in Malaga, Spain in May.