I've actually heard that before (while growing up), though I thought it was just a myth.

However, meta-analysis of seven studies on severe asthma involving 333,102 patients says so: for overweight and obese individuals, the incidence of asthma increases by 50 percent as compared to those of normal weight.

E. Rand Sutherland, M.D., M.P.H., of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, and one associate found a dose-dependent increase in the odds for asthma in overweight and obese men and women. Based on their results, the researchers suggest that asthma incidence could by reduced by targeted interventions against being overweight or obese.

It is already well-established that obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, sleep apnea, stroke, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and other illnesses. This new finding adds asthma to the list.

Study results appear in the first issue for April 2007 of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (published by the American Thoracic Society).

Read the full report.