Respiratory complications of obesity

Educational aims

1. To make readers aware of the importance of obesity in respiratory medicine.

2. To outline the mechanisms of breathing problems in obesity.

3. To explain strategies for management of breathing problems in obesity.

Summary Obesity has become a public health problem because of its epidemic proportions in the population. There are many associated respiratory problems with sleep apnoea, obesity hypoventilation and obesity-associated asthma. The mechanisms of diminished breathing in the obese are complex and involve central control, peripheral drive, airway calibre and probably metabolic pathways.

All pulmonologists need to know how to manage obesity-related problems and make informed choices about modalities of treatment.