Asthma Meds Don't Work as Well in Overweight Patients

The practical advice, Heffner said, is to suggest overweight patients with asthma lose weight. However, he said, "We don't know if you can regain your responsiveness to glucocorticoids if you lose weight."

Sutherland cautions those with asthma not to stop taking medications. "This [study ] doesn't mean the drug won't work, it just means the drugs might not work as well" in overweight patients with asthma. Physicians may want to increase the dose, however.

The study was published in the first October issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

More information

To learn more about asthma medications, visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.