Macro partitioning
Abdominal and thoracic fat distribution (android pattern) negatively influences lung volume and capacity more significantly than overall BMI alone.
Focus on losing abdominal fat, as it directly restricts your diaphragm and reduces lung capacity. Using tools that measure body composition or waist circumference can be more informative than BMI alone for understanding your respiratory health. Targeting visceral fat through diet and exercise will likely yield the best improvements in your breathing mechanics.
The android pattern of body fat deposition appears to negatively influence lung volume and lung capacity by generating increased resistance to diaphragmatic contraction and impairing respiratory mechanics.
Why this rating
Supported by DXA studies showing significant correlations between android fat and lung volumes.
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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