Association between the overweight and allergic diseases in school age child population of tbilisi

The Study aims evaluation of relationship between BMI indices and allergic disorders.  Cross-sectional study was conducted through questioning of the random and representative groups of school age child population in Tbilisi. In addition spirometry and measurement of weight was conducted. A written, self-completed questionnaire modified from the ISAAC core questionnaire concerning symptoms and BMI-per-age cut-off points based on WHO standard reference were used.  Overweight status was defined as a BMI greater than the age- and gender-specific 85th percentile. At all 1026 children from 10-14 years old were involved in study.  The study reveled that BMI was more then 85 % in 28, 1 % cases. 19.3% children reported a physician-diagnosed allergic disease, and 28.6% reported undiagnosed allergic symptoms The Overweight subjects more frequently reported ever having wheezing (27.7 vs. 16.2%, p <0.005) and wheezing in the previous 12 months (11.4 vs. 7.9%, p<0,005) than normal-weight and underweight  subjects.   Atopy was more common among overweight adolescents than among those of normal weight (53,4 vs. 42.1%, p < 0.005), overweight show no relationship with allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and hey fever.

So we can conclude that  overweight is associated with  atopy as well as wheezing episodes and it may be suggested as one of several other  risk factors responsible for atopy and asthma symptoms.