The Relationship between Obesity and Lung Function in Adults: A Systematic Review

Background: The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate studies assessing the association between obesity and lung function in adult individuals. Methods: This systematic review conducted a comprehensive search of databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, EMBASE, ProQuest, and Google Scholar, up to 30 June 2021. Keywords used were: “obesity,” “overweight,” “breathing function,” “respiratory function,” “breathing physiology,” and “breathing disorders.” Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers. Results: Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria: eight cohort studies, four case-control studies, and four cross-sectional studies. Conclusion: Based on the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) quality assessment tools, all included studies were rated as high quality, except for one cohort study (approximately 6% of the total), which was rated as moderate quality. According to the results of these 16 studies, there is a strong inverse correlation between obesity severity and certain lung volumes and capacities in adults.