# Respiratory Effects of Obesity in Children

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $633,783

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
In obese children, excess fat exerts an unfavorable burden on the respiratory system, particularly during
exercise. It is unclear if this burden reduces exercise tolerance, provokes dyspnea on exertion (DOE), or
contributes to respiratory symptoms, which could be misdiagnosed as asthma. Obesity-related respiratory
symptoms are wrongly labeled asthma in over 50% of cases placing obese children at risk of unnecessary
treatment and potentially a reluctance to exercise, which is counterproductive to weight loss. We propose
that most of the respiratory effects in obese children are the result of low lung volume breathing, i.e., a
reduction in functional residual capacity at rest, and end-expiratory lung volume during exercise. It is also
unclear whether moderate weight loss and regular exercise make a significant change in respiratory
function, exercise tolerance, or DOE in obese children. This is not to imply that weight loss and regular
exercise are not important in the treatment of childhood obesity, but it is unclear if this conventional
prescription of modest weight loss and regular exercise yields significant changes in respiratory function,
exercise tolerance, and/or DOE in obese children. Conversely, the effects of continued weight gain on
respiratory function, exercise tolerance, and DOE are also unknown. The overall objective of this
application is to investigate the respiratory effects of obesity in prepubescent children, including
obese children with respiratory symptoms misdiagnosed as asthma, before and after 1) a program
of weight loss and regular exercise and 2) continued weight gain as compared with normal weight
children before and after 1 yr. Our approach will be to examine respiratory function, exercise tolerance,
and DOE in prepubescent obese boys and girls (Tanner score≤3, 8-12 yr), including those misdiagnosed
with asthma, before and after 1) weight loss and regular exercise and 2) continued weight gain as
compared with prepubescent normal weight boys and girls before and after a control period of 1 yr. We will
test the following hypotheses in obese children as compared with normal weight children. Aim 1) Obesity
will decrease respiratory function but to a greater extent in obese children misdiagnosed with
asthma. Aim 2) Obesity will decrease exercise tolerance but not cardiorespiratory fitness, except in
obese children misdiagnosed with asthma where both may be reduced. Aim 3) Obesity will increase
DOE but to a greater extent in obese children misdiagnosed with asthma. Aim 4) Weight loss and
regular exercise will improve respiratory function, exercise tolerance, and DOE in obese children,
including those misdiagnosed with asthma, while continued weight gain will worsen respiratory function,
exercise tolerance, and DOE in obese children, including those misdiagnosed with asthma, as compared
with normal weight children before and after 1 yr. These results will have broad and immediate clinical
impact on t...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9970517
- **Project number:** 5R01HL136643-04
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** TONY G BABB
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $633,783
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-05 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9970517

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9970517, Respiratory Effects of Obesity in Children (5R01HL136643-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9970517. Licensed CC0.

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