--- title: "Obesity, insulin resistance and the prevalence of atopy and asthma in US adults. | Sutter Health" description: "We investigated whether there is an association of obesity and insulin resistance with asthma and atopy prevalence in US adults." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-insulin-resistance-atopy-asthma-adults-1055312557" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Obesity, insulin resistance and the prevalence of atopy and asthma in US adults. # Obesity, insulin resistance and the prevalence of atopy and asthma in US adults. Ma J, Xiao L, & Knowles SB. _Allergy. 65(11):1455-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02402.x._ 2010-11-01 ## Abstract ### BACKGROUND: The roles of obesity and insulin resistance in asthma and atopy are not well understood. We investigated whether there is an association of obesity and insulin resistance with asthma and atopy prevalence in US adults . #### METHODS: Data from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, controlling for sex, age, ethnicity, income, and smoking status. Obesity was measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, and insulin resistance by the homeostasis model assessment. Asthma was defined by self-report of ever receiving a diagnosis and still having asthma currently, and atopy by any positive specific serum IgE responses to a panel of aeroallergens. #### RESULTS: Neither obesity measure nor insulin resistance was associated with atopy . Obesity was positively associated with asthma overall (odds ratio \[OR\] for obese vs normal BMI = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.76, 2.96; OR for obese vs normal waist circumference = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.51) but insulin resistance was not (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 0.80, 1.98). Obesity was also associated with nonatopic asthma (OR for obese vs normal BMI = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.2, 5.2; OR for obese vs normal waist circumference = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.21, 3.54), while obese BMI was also associated with atopic asthma (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.37, 3.03). Obesity remained independently associated with all asthma outcomes after controlling for insulin resistance . #### CONCLUSION: Obesity was independently associated with asthma , and atopic and nonatopic asthma , after controlling for insulin resistance and socio-demographic factors. There was no evidence that insulin resistance was associated with atopy or asthma . [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Obesity%2C+insulin+resistance+and+the+prevalence+of+atopy+a) ## Research topics - [Asthma](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Asthma%5C%22%22) - [Obesity](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Obesity%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Weight management interventions in adult and pediatric asthma populations: a systematic review.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/weight-mgmt-interventions-asthma-review-1055312909) Lv N, Xiao L, Ma J. J Pulm Respir Med. 5(232). pii: 1000232. 2015 Oct 01 - Publication ### [Association of general and central obesity and atopic and nonatopic asthma in US adults.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-atopic-nonatopic-asthma-in-us-adults-1055312601) Ma J, Xiao L. J Asthma. 50(4):395-402. doi: 10.3109/02770903.2013.770014. Epub 2013 Feb 25. 2013 May 01 - Publication ### [Weight management interventions in adult and pediatric asthma populations: a systematic review.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/wt-mgmt-adult-ped-asthma-review-1055312799) Lv N, Xiao L, Ma J. J Pulm Respir Med. 5:232. doi:10.4172/2161-105X.1000232 2014 Dec 26 - Publication ### [Abdominal and general adiposity and level of asthma control in adults with uncontrolled asthma.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/adiposity-and-level-of-asthma-control-1055312908) Lv N, Xiao L, Camargo CA Jr, Wilson SR, Buist AS, Strub P, Nadeau KC, Ma J. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 11(8):1218-24. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201405-214OC. 2014 Oct 01 - Publication ### [Five-year risk of incident disease following a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/risk-of-incident-disease-after-dx-of-chronic-rhinosinusitis-1055312747) Hirsch AG, Yan XS, Sundaresan AS, Tan BK, Schleimer RP, Kern RC, Kennedy TL, Greene JS, Schwartz BS. Allergy. 70(12):1613-21. doi: 10.1111/all.12759. Epub 2015 Sep 25. 2015 Dec 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-insulin-resistance-atopy-asthma-adults-1055312557#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Obesity, insulin resistance and the prevalence of atopy and asthma in US adults."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-insulin-resistance-atopy-asthma-adults-1055312557#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Obesity, insulin resistance and the prevalence of atopy and asthma in US adults.","headline":"Obesity, insulin resistance and the prevalence of atopy and asthma in US adults.","abstract":"BACKGROUND: The roles of obesity and insulinresistance in asthma and atopy are not well understood. We investigated whether there is an association of obesity and insulinresistance with asthma and atopyprevalence in USadults. METHODS: Data from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, controlling for sex, age, ethnicity, income, and smoking status. Obesity was measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, and insulinresistance by the homeostasis model assessment. Asthma was defined by self-report of ever receiving a diagnosis and still having asthma currently, and atopy by any positive specific serum IgE responses to a panel of aeroallergens. RESULTS: Neither obesity measure nor insulinresistance was associated with atopy. Obesity was positively associated with asthma overall (odds ratio [OR] for obese vs normal BMI = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.76, 2.96; OR for obese vs normal waist circumference = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.51) but insulinresistance was not (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 0.80, 1.98). Obesity was also associated with nonatopic asthma (OR for obese vs normal BMI = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.2, 5.2; OR for obese vs normal waist circumference = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.21, 3.54), while obese BMI was also associated with atopic asthma (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.37, 3.03). Obesity remained independently associated with all asthma outcomes after controlling for insulinresistance. CONCLUSION: Obesity was independently associated with asthma, and atopic and nonatopic asthma, after controlling for insulinresistance and socio-demographic factors. There was no evidence that insulinresistance was associated with atopy or asthma.","description":"We investigated whether there is an association of obesity and insulin resistance with asthma and atopy prevalence in US adults.","keywords":["Asthma","Obesity"],"datePublished":"2010-11-01","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-insulin-resistance-atopy-asthma-adults-1055312557","inLanguage":"en-US","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"DOI","value":"10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02402.x"}],"sameAs":["https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02402.x"],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Allergy"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ma J"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Xiao L"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Knowles SB"}],"sourceOrganization":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Asthma","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Asthma%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Obesity","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Obesity%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-insulin-resistance-atopy-asthma-adults-1055312557","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-insulin-resistance-atopy-asthma-adults-1055312557#breadcrumblist"}}} ```