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Gain in lung function after weight reduction in severely obese children
  1. E J van de Griendt1,
  2. O H van der Baan-Slootweg2,
  3. E E M van Essen-Zandvliet2,
  4. J van der Palen3,4,
  5. C L J Tamminga-Smeulders2,
  6. M A Benninga5,
  7. W M C van Aalderen1
  1. 1Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  2. 2Department of Pediatrics, Asthma Centre Heideheuvel, Hilversum, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Epidemiology, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
  4. 4Department of Research Methodology, Measurement and Data Analysis, University Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
  5. 5Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  1. Correspondence to Dr Erik-Jonas van de Griendt, Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, PO Box 22660, Amsterdam 1100 DD, The Netherlands; e.j.vandegriendt{at}amc.nl

Abstract

Aim The primary objective of this prospective cohort study was to determine the effect of weight loss on pulmonary function values in extremely obese children.

Methods Obese children participated in a 26-week in-hospital or outpatient multidisciplinary treatment programme. Waist circumference was measured and pulmonary function tests were performed at enrolment and after 6 months.

Results The data of 112 children were analysed. The children had a mean age of 14.4 (range 8.5–18.9) years and 62.5% were girls. The mean SD score-body mass index (SDS-BMI) was +3.38 at baseline and +2.91 after the intervention. Lung function improved significantly: functional vital capacity increased by 3.08% (95% CI 1.16% to 5.00%) of the predicted value, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) by 2.91% (95% CI 1.11% to 4.71%) of the predicted value, total lung capacity by 2.27% (95% CI 1.16% to 5.00%) of the predicted value, and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) by 14.8% (95% CI 8.66% to 20.88%) of the predicted value. The increase in ERV correlated with the reduction in SDS-BMI and with the reduction in waist circumference. FEV1 did not correlate with the reduction in either SDS-BMI or waist circumference.

Conclusions Weight loss in severely obese children correlated with an improvement in lung function, especially ERV. The improvement in ERV correlated with the decrease in SDS-BMI and waist circumference.

  • obesity
  • pulmonary function testing
  • children
  • weight loss
  • lung function

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2011-301304

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    Footnotes

    • EJvdG and OHvdB-S contributed equally.

    • Competing interests None.

    • Ethics approval Provided by the Academic Medical Centre of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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      R Mark Beattie
      Archives of Disease in Childhood 2012; 97 i-i Published Online First: 19 Nov 2012. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-303304