IF THE 13 billion other health deficiencies related to obesity weren’t enough to dissuade you from the Po’Boy life, then take a bite at this: In a University of Washington study of more than 1100 adults, researchers determined that the overweight were more likely than slimmer folks to have asthma. It’s not clear whether excess weight causes asthma or asthma results in weight gain (asthmatics may eschew exercise to avoid an attack). With proper medication and a sufficient warm-up, however, even those suffering from exercise induced asthma can be active without breathing problems, says the Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter. Exercise is key to weight loss and its collateral effect of fewer asthma episodes.
