That extra padding around the middle for women doesn’t just mean that their clothes are less attractive: it also means they are at higher risk for a host of diseases. Well, new research shows that we can add asthma to that list.

The study was published in the journal Thorax. The California Teachers Study looked at more than 88,000 women. The critical waist circumference is 35 inches or 89 centimeters. Ideally, women should have a waist measurement of 33 inches or less in order to maintain good health. At waist measurements above 35 inches, the risks include heart attacks, diabetes and stroke. In addition, this recent study shows that women with a 35 inch waist, even if they are of normal weight, have a 37 per cent greater chance of developing asthma. So apple-shaped women still have to take note.

The study went on further to say that asthma risk doubled for women with a 35 inch waist or greater who were classed as obese. For those who are morbidly obese, the risk more than tripled. This clearly shows that something is happening in the body of overweight women that predisposes to asthmatic symptoms.

The problem could be related to a build up of adipose fat or brown fat tissue, which is the kind of fat that accumulates in the abdomen. This kind of fat tends to bind to both the liver and the internal organs. Research shows that this type of fat is different and may have significant metabolic effects. Researcher Julie Von Behren said: “Visceral fat … can produce compounds that may cause inflammation. Inflammation may then be related to asthma.”

This research supports the conclusion of another study that looked at overweight kids.

Sources: BBC News, Nurse, Lose That Tyre