The association between BMI, vigorous physical activity and television viewing and the risk of symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in children and adolescents: ISAAC Phase Three
Journal
Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Date Issued
2013-01
Author(s)
Mitchell, E A
Beasley, R
Björkstén, B
Crane, J
García-Marcos, L
Keil, U
The ISAAC Phase Three Study Group
DOI
10.1111/cea.12024
Abstract
Background: Several studies have observed an association between obesity and asthma,
but whether or not there is an association with rhinoconjunctivitis or eczema is unclear.
Aims To examine the relationship between body mass index categories (underweight,
overweight and obesity), vigorous physical activity and television viewing and the risk of
symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema.
Methods: As part of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)
Phase Three, parents or guardians of children aged 6–7 years completed written questionnaires
about symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, and several potential
risk factors, such as vigorous physical activity and television viewing, and other information
such as the child’s height and weight. Adolescents aged 13–14 years self-completed
the questionnaires on these symptoms and potential risk factors and reported their own
height and weight. For 28% of children and 24% of adolescents, the height and weight
was objectively measured.
Results: A total of 76 164 children aged 6–7 years (from 29 centres and 17 countries) and
201 370 adolescents aged 13–14 years (from 73 centres and 35 countries) provided data
meeting the inclusion criteria. There were associations between overweight and obesity,
but not underweight, and symptoms of asthma and eczema but not rhinoconjunctivitis.
Vigorous physical activity was positively associated with symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis
and eczema in adolescents, but not children. Viewing television for five or
more hours/day was associated with an increased risk of symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis
and eczema in adolescents and symptoms of asthma in children.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: This study has confirmed the association between
overweight and obesity and symptoms of asthma. It has extended these observations to
include significant associations with symptoms of eczema, but not rhinoconjunctivitis.
There are complex relationships between obesity, vigorous physical activity and sedentary
behaviour and the symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in children.
but whether or not there is an association with rhinoconjunctivitis or eczema is unclear.
Aims To examine the relationship between body mass index categories (underweight,
overweight and obesity), vigorous physical activity and television viewing and the risk of
symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema.
Methods: As part of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)
Phase Three, parents or guardians of children aged 6–7 years completed written questionnaires
about symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, and several potential
risk factors, such as vigorous physical activity and television viewing, and other information
such as the child’s height and weight. Adolescents aged 13–14 years self-completed
the questionnaires on these symptoms and potential risk factors and reported their own
height and weight. For 28% of children and 24% of adolescents, the height and weight
was objectively measured.
Results: A total of 76 164 children aged 6–7 years (from 29 centres and 17 countries) and
201 370 adolescents aged 13–14 years (from 73 centres and 35 countries) provided data
meeting the inclusion criteria. There were associations between overweight and obesity,
but not underweight, and symptoms of asthma and eczema but not rhinoconjunctivitis.
Vigorous physical activity was positively associated with symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis
and eczema in adolescents, but not children. Viewing television for five or
more hours/day was associated with an increased risk of symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis
and eczema in adolescents and symptoms of asthma in children.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: This study has confirmed the association between
overweight and obesity and symptoms of asthma. It has extended these observations to
include significant associations with symptoms of eczema, but not rhinoconjunctivitis.
There are complex relationships between obesity, vigorous physical activity and sedentary
behaviour and the symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in children.