title: The effects of body fat distribution on pulmonary function tests in the overweight and obese.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the predominant pulmonary function abnormality in overweight and moderately obese subjects and to evaluate the correlation between the severity of lung function impairment and the degree of obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three volunteers underwent physical examination, skin fold measurements, and standardized pulmonary function tests. Thirty-one women and 22 men with a mean age of 40.2 (18-66) years were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reduction in functional residual capacity (FRC) and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) were the most common abnormalities in overweight and obese subjects. The reduction in static lung volume was correlated with the degree of obesity in women and men. Stepwise multiple regression coefficients were obtained separately for women and men. Subscapular skinfold was the best predictor in women for FRC and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and BMI were found the best for ERV. WHR was found predictive for forced vital capacity, total lung capacity, and FRC in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lung volumes are substantially affected in our overweight and obese subjects. This influence is focused on different parameters of respiratory functions in men and women in relation to body fat distribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University Medical School, Aydin, Turkey. emel_ceylan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cömlekçi
authors.forename: Atila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akkoçlu
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Itil
authors.forename: Gül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ergör
authors.forename: Sena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yeşil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014421:Turkey; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio