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Weight loss in obese patients with asthma improved lung function and health status

Design
Randomised (allocation concealed^*), unblinded,^* controlled trial with 1 year follow up.

Setting
Outpatient clinic in Helsinki, Finland.

Patients
38 patients who were 18–60 years of age (mean age 49 y, 76% women), had a body mass index of 30 to 42, had asthma with a spontaneous diurnal variation or a bronchodilator response of 15%, and were non-smokers. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy; history of bulimia or anorexia; other severe disease, including heart, thyroid, liver, or gallbladder disorders; insulin or systemic steroid treatment; or history of food allergy or intolerance to any element of the intervention diet. Follow up was complete.

Intervention
Patients were allocated to a weight loss group (n=19) or a control group (n=19). The weight reduction programme included 12 group therapy sessions in 14 weeks, including an 8 week dieting period in which patients took a very low energy dietary preparation (Nutrilett, Nycomed Pharma, Oslo, Norway) that provided 1760 kJ of . . . [Full text of this article]

Justin Beilby, MBBS, MD, MPH

University of Adelaide Adelaide, South Australia, Australia