Asthma can be affected by many factors. For some people, body weight is one factor that may influence how well asthma is controlled. 

Research shows that people living with asthma are more likely to be overweight or living with obesity, and excess weight can make asthma symptoms harder to manage.  

If body weight is affecting your asthma, support from your healthcare team can help you make changes that work for your situation. Even small changes may improve symptom control and overall wellbeing. 

How Body Weight Affects Asthma

  • Higher risk of flare-ups: Living with obesity is linked with an increased risk of asthma flare-ups. Flare‑ups may happen more often or become more severe.  
  • Reduced response to asthma treatment: Research suggests that people living with obesity may respond differently to some asthma medicines, including preventer medicines (inhaled corticosteroids). Your doctor can help choose the treatment approach that’s right for you. 
  • More noticeable symptoms: People with asthma who are overweight often experience more wheezing, breathlessness and lower quality of life than those at a healthy weight.  
  • Increased likelihood of related conditions: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition that can disrupt breathing during sleep. Obesity raises the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea. This can further worsen asthma control, fatigue and overnight symptoms.  

Children, Asthma and Weight

Children with asthma who are overweight or living with obesity may also experience: 

  • Worse symptom control and more flare‑ups 
  • Longer hospital stays if admitted for asthma 
  • Less benefit from preventer treatment compared to children with a healthy weight 

Weight management and asthma

For some people, support to improve overall health and manage weight may also help improve asthma outcomes.  

What can help? 

  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet. 
  • Stay physically active in ways that suit your abilities and asthma. 
  • If exercise causes symptoms, start slowly and talk with your doctor about how to exercise safely. 
  • Review your Asthma Action Plan regularly. 
  • Speak with your doctor, Asthma Educator or dietitian if you’d like support. 
  • If your asthma remains difficult to control, ask your doctor whether another health condition could be contributing. 

Talk to your doctor about how your weight may affect your asthma and what support might work best for your individual needs. 

1800 Asthma, Book a call, Asthma Australia, Asthma Educators

Last updated 19/08/2026