Body Mass Index and Childhood Asthma: A Linear Association?

Abstract

Our objective was to characterize the association between body mass index (BMI) and childhood asthma while adjusting for individual and neighborhood socioeconomic factors. Data were obtained from 3,804 students 10 to 11 years of age in Nova Scotia, Canada. Asthma was defined as parent-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma or bronchitis. Smoothed curves suggested a linear association between BMI and asthma with a 6 % increase in prevalence per unit increase of BMI. This association was independent of allergies, sex, and socioeconomic factors. Girls from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods were less likely to be asthmatic as were boys from well-educated and wealthy families.

Keywords:

• asthma
• body mass index
• childhood obesity
• generalized additive model
• socio-economic factors