Assessment of Pulmonary Functions in Obese Young Adults

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity, especially, adolescent obesity is specially a matter of concern and the causes are
manifold that includes lack of regular exercise, sedentary life style, over consumption of high caloric foods;
genetic, endocrine and metabolic mechanisms and perinatal and early life factors.Pulmonary function testing
is the most commonly performed lung function test and are considered to be the initial screening tool for
pulmonary diseases. Medical students of M.B.B.S. course have a hectic schedule along with inappropriate
diet and sedentary lifestyle of can cause them to gain weight. Since obesity in these young adults is associated
with various pulmonary function alterations, it becomes necessary to assess the respiratory functions of
these medical students.
Aim: To assess the pulmonary functions in obese young adults.
Objectives: To compare the effects of central obesity versus peripheral obesity on pulmonary functions as
compared to the normal.
Settings: Department of Physiology Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical
Sciences, Wardha and Department of Medicine, TNMC & BYL Nair Ch. Hospital, Mumbai Central, Mumbai.
Method: After taking informed written consent, anthropometric data was recorded from each participant.
Obese medical students were divided into central and peripheral obese groups on the basis of waist hip
ratio and waist circumference. On brief general and clinical examination, pulmonary function tests (FVC,
FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio) of central obese, peripheral obese and healthy subjects were recorded using
MIR Spirometer with Winspiro-Pro 4.4 software after one practice attempt and report was interpreted.
Comparison of data among various study groups was done by using Chi square test and one way Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA) – Tukey’s post hoc test. The level of significance was set at 5%. The P-value ?0.05 was
considered as statistically significant.
Interventions: Not applicable.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference of mean values of FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC %
between normal and peripheral obese groups and between normal and central obese groups and also between
peripheral obese and central obese groups.
Conclusion: This study shows that young obese adults have lower pulmonary function tests values as
compared to normal individuals whereas the detrimental effect is more in the central obese than peripheral
obesity. Hence early identification and initiation of preventive measures to prevent the deterioration of lung
functions in susceptible young adults is crucial.