The Relationship Between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Pulmonary Function Among Healthcare Workers in Mosul City/Iraq

Abstract

The study was designed to evaluate if there is a relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and pulmonary function. This highlights the mechanisms by which obesity and overweight status could affect lung health, through parameters such as Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second  (FEV1%). To determine pulmonary function, spirometry is the main method. It defines the severity of pulmonary function impairment according to FEV1% as normal to mild: average ≥70%, moderate 40-69%, and severe ≤39%. Interestingly, the review even points out that a form of malnutrition can also cause pulmonary function decline. This is why nutritional status should be one consideration in clinical assessments for some types of diseases. Reflecting the fact that obesity is an important contributing factor to respiratory health. It is stated in the document that obesity results from some unwanted changes which can cause the development of smaller lung volumes and also reduce total capacity even less sucking capacities (compared to non-obese people). It also considers waist circumference and additional waist-to-hip ratio as potentially better predictors of pulmonary function than BMI only, because body fat distribution is not reflected by the presence or absence of obesity. The research likewise links this eating pattern to the worldwide rise in obesity and suggests a correlation with myriad health issues such as asthma. This indicates that mechanical consequences of increased body mass could exacerbate airway remodeling, predisposing to subclinical airway dysfunction. Second, it emphasizes the extra burden of breathing experienced by obese patients that may render them short of breath and possibly wheezy. In conclusion, whilst BMI remains a pragmatic measurement to reflect body fat content adequately and therefore pulmonary implications of obesity on lung physiology upstream from Acute exacerbations are also influenced not just by the quantitative trajectory of adiposity (BMI) but qualitative factors related to body distribution including abdominal girth as well as overall nutritional status.