title: A persistently high body mass index increases the risk of atopic asthma at school age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Being overweight has been associated with the risk of developing childhood asthma, but studies have produced conflicting results, for example with regard to possible links to allergic diseases. This study aimed to explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and school-age asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from a prospective, longitudinal study of 5044 children born in western Sweden. The parents answered questionnaires at six months and one, four-and-a-half and eight years of age. The response rate to the final questionnaire at the age of eight was just over 80%. BMI was adjusted for age and gender, and a high BMI was defined as the 85th percentile and above.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A multivariate analysis showed an independently increased risk of doctor-diagnosed asthma among children with a persistently high BMI, both in infancy and at school age, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.9 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.3-6.4. In addition, persistently high BMI was associated with an increased risk of atopic asthma (aOR 4.7, 95% CI 2.0-11.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A persistently high BMI during childhood increased the risk of doctor-diagnosed asthma at school age. The increased risk of atopic asthma suggests an effect mediated via the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loid
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goksör
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bernt
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3557-2995
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alm
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pettersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Möllborg
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Laslo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Erdes
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Åberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wennergren
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Allergies; Asthma; Atopic asthma; Body mass index; Children; Overweight
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