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Being overweight is well known to raise the risk of asthma. But the latest study suggests that the amount of weight women carry around the abdomen might be particularly important. The study, by the Northern California Cancer Center at Berkeley analysed data on 88,304 female teachers and school administrators. The results showed that overweight women were 40% more likely to have asthma than women of a normal weight. Asthma was more than twice as likely in obese women, and more than three times as likely in extremely obese women than in those of normal body weight. But perhaps more surprisingly, the researchers also found that women of normal body weight, but with a waist circumference of more than 88cm were also at increased risk - around a third higher than those with a smaller waist. Visceral fat is metabolically different from other types of fat found in the body, and may have different - and more profound - effects on health. Researcher Julie Von Behren said: "Visceral fat is metabolically more active - it can produce compounds that may cause inflammation. Inflammation may then be related to asthma."
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