Children who are overweight between the ages 6 and 7 are placed at an increased risk of developing asthma symptoms in later life.

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways to become sore and swollen, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, tightness of the chest and difficulty in breathing. Asthma symptoms are more serious and troubling in children as their airways are smaller than adults.

According to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, asthma-related symptoms such as shortness of breath are 68 percent more prevalent among 8 year olds who were reported to be heavier other children between the ages of 6 and 7.

Higher vulnerability to developing asthma, however, was not reported among overweight children who succeeded in becoming normal weight by the age 6 or 7.

Scientists concluded that being overweight in early childhood does not always lead to breathing difficulties if the child manages to become normal weight by the age of 8.

PKH/HGH