Losing weight with asthma can be challenging but also worthwhile.
Avoiding processed foods and consuming more fruits and vegetables can help you achieve a healthy weight.
Regular exercise may help to improve lung function and aid in weight loss as well.
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Asthma can make breathing more difficult, so physical activity may be uncomfortableespecially if your asthma isexercise-induced.
Low-impact activities, such as walking, cycling, or yoga, are usually best if you have asthma.
You may face other difficulties with weight loss as well.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
However, addressing and overcoming these challenges can help you manage asthma and improve your overall health.
Luis Alvarez / Getty Images
Why It’s Important to Lose Weight With Asthma?
Research indicates that excess weight increasesasthmarisk.
And it seems like the two conditions often go hand-in-hand.
Obesity is a common co-morbidity in people with asthma.
Rates are also higher in overweight African American and Hispanic people assigned male at birth.
There are some who believe that obesity may worsen airway obstruction.
However, studies investigating this effect have yielded mixed results.
But there are some changes that have been strongly supported by research.
They include:
What Is Obese Asthma?
A major finding is that the inflammation that leads to narrowed airways appears to come from a different mechanism.
The Link Between Asthma and Metabolism
The link between asthma and metabolism is complex.
It is widely understood that people with asthma have increased metabolic rates.
The higher rate is attributed to the extra energy cost of breathing in people with the condition.
However, that higher calorie burn doesn’t necessarily translate to weight loss.
In fact, people with asthma have an increased risk formetabolic syndrome, a condition closely tied to obesity.
Some experts suggest that medications for metabolic syndrome may also help in the treatment of asthma.
Weight loss may help you to become more active and move more comfortably throughout the day.
But there are distinct benefits for people with asthma.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Next, decide how you will track your weight loss progress.
Along with charting your weight loss, record how you feel day-to-day.
Is your breathing labored?
Did you need your inhaler?
This data will help identify what’s working as well as what aspects of the plan may need modification.
Diet, exercise, medication, and surgery are all options that you may want to consider.
Fill up on fruits, veggies, and whole grains to maximize nutrition and reduce calories.
Studies show that emphasizing plant-based foods may reduce your asthma symptoms.
TheMediterranean Dietand theDASH Diethave both been studied extensively for their health and weight loss benefits.
Learn to eat mindfully: Take the time to fully experience your meal or snack.
Eat slowly and enjoy the taste, texture, and smell of your food.
Slowing your meal time may help you eat less while increasing food enjoyment and satisfaction.
Plan meals around a calorie goal: Some people choose a calorie goal for their weight loss journey.
In general, to lose one pound per week you should cut out approximately 500 calories per day.
The easiest way to find your target number is to use a weight loss calculator.
This may mean starting slowly and gradually increasing the length and intensity of your workouts.
Put the sessions on your calendar (and set reminders!)
just like you schedule all of your other important appointments.
Make consistency your goal.
As you become consistent, make each session longer or combine them into one longer session.
Thirty to 45 minutes per day can provide substantial rewards.
Brisk walking, swimming, biking, andjoggingare all aerobic activities.
But it is essential to warm up slowly when you have asthma.
Take preventative safety measures: Formulate anasthma action planso you aren’t caught unprepared if symptoms should arise.
For example, always use yourpreventive asthma medicationsor an inhaler before exercise if prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Also, keep your rescue inhaler with you.
Do not push yourself so hard that you overlook warning signs of an asthma attack.
The procedure comes with considerablerisks and complications.
For starters, surgery isn’t an alternative to diet and exercise.
Those who undergo surgery still make significant diet and exercise changes.
Discuss the risks and benefits with a healthcare provider.
It’s a decision that bears thoughtful consideration with an eye on what’s best for your overall health.
But that certainly doesn’t mean that you could’tor that you shouldn’t.
Knowing that you may encounter challenges can help you to prepare for them in advance.
Speak with your healthcare provider about setting up a support system to address hurdles as they arrive.
Developing a diet and exercise plan are the first steps to starting your weight loss journey.
It may take time (perhaps more than you expect) and you may have setbacks.
But remember that even a small amount of weight loss can greatly improve asthma symptoms and overall health.
And the more you lose, the easier you may find it to keep going.
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