Mixed
Obesity causes restrictive lung disease patterns (reduced ERV, FRC, TLC) primarily through mechanical restriction from adipose tissue deposition on the chest and abdomen, rather than intrinsic airway obstruction.
Your breathing difficulties are likely due to the physical weight of fat on your chest and abdomen restricting your lungs, not necessarily a disease like asthma. This 'restrictive' pattern means your lungs can't expand fully. Losing weight reduces this physical burden, allowing your lungs to expand more easily and improving your capacity. This is distinct from obstructive diseases where airways are narrowed.
Obesity affects the respiratory system by several mechanisms, including direct mechanical changes due to fat deposition on the chest wall, abdomen, and upper airway as well as systemic inflammation... Reduction in lung compliance can also result from increased pulmonary blood volume, closure of dependent airways with the formation of small areas of atelectasis, or increased alveolar surface tension due to a reduction in FRC.
Why this rating
Consistently supported by multiple physiological studies and spirometry data cited in the review.
Source
Obesity: systemic and pulmonary complications, biochemical abnormalities, and impairment of lung function
Thiago Thomáz Mafort et al. · Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine · 2016
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