Physiology of obesity and effects on lung function
Abstract
In obese people, the presence of adipose tissue around the rib cage and abdomen and in the visceral cavity loads the chest wall and reduces functional residual capacity (FRC). The reduction in FRC and in expiratory reserve volume is detectable, even at a modest increase in weight. However, obesity has little direct effect on airway caliber. Spirometric variables decrease in proportion to lung volumes, but are rarely below the normal range, even in the extremely obese, while reductions in expiratory flows and increases in airway resistance are largely normalized by adjusting for lung volumes. Nevertheless, the reduction in FRC has consequences for other aspects of lung function. A low FRC increases the risk of both expiratory flow limitation and airway closure. Marked reductions in expiratory reserve volume may lead to abnormalities in ventilation distribution, with closure of airways in the dependent zones of the lung and ventilation perfusion inequalities. Greater airway closure during tidal breathing is associated with lower arterial oxygen saturation in some subjects, even though lung CO-diffusing capacity is normal or increased in the obese. Bronchoconstriction has the potential to enhance the effects of obesity on airway closure and thus on ventilation distribution. Thus obesity has effects on lung function that can reduce respiratory well-being, even in the absence of specific respiratory disease, and may also exaggerate the effects of existing airway disease.
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Added weight on the thorax and abdomen (and also the neck) can significantly affect static and dynamic lung volumes along with respiratory mechanics, usually in a dose-response fashion.
“Added weight on the thorax and abdomen (and also the neck), can significantly affect static and dynamic lung volumes along with respiratory mechanics,92–112 usually in a dose-response fashion.”
From Pathogenesis of hyperinflation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2014) · cites this paper as [93]
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- Authors
- Salome, C. M., King, G. G., & Berend, N.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Salome, Cheryl M.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2010-01
- Volume
- 108
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 206-211
- ISSN
- 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
- 8750-7587
- 1522-1601
- OpenAlex
- W2155526377
- Cited by
- 831
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 52 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 57 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 61 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 64 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 43
- FWCI
- 3.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Respiratory Support and Mechanisms
- Keywords
- obesity, lung function, functional residual capacity, expiratory reserve volume, airway closure, expiratory flow limitation, ventilation distribution, ventilation-perfusion inequality, bronchoconstriction, arterial oxygen saturation, airway resistance, spirometry
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Functional Residual Capacity, Humans, Lung Diseases, Models, Biological, Obesity, Pulmonary Ventilation, Respiratory Mechanics
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