OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jun 11, 2015) - A new Canadian study has found that weight loss in obese adults can reduce their asthma severity.

The research team, led by Dr. Smita Pakhale, a respirologist in the department of medicine at The Ottawa Hospital, found that structured weight loss programs focusing on diet and exercise in obese asthma patients can lead to improved asthma symptoms.

Published in the June issue of the journal CHEST, the study findings could result in cost-effective treatments for obese people with asthma.

The incidence of asthma in obese individuals is close to one and half times higher than in individuals of a healthy weight.

"The results support weight loss as a strategy to reduce or reverse asthma symptoms," said Dr. Pakhale, who is also a volunteer with the Canadian Thoracic Society, the medical section of the Canadian Lung Association. "Although other studies have been done in this area the strength of our study is the use of the most rigorous methods to assess asthma and to objectively measure asthma severity as the primary study outcome."

Dr. Pakhale added that the study also underscores the importance of treating comorbidities -- other health conditions that occur at the same time as asthma. "You have to treat all conditions to really improve the quality of life for patients."

Funding for this study was provided through Department of Medicine at The Ottawa Hospital and by the Ontario Lung Association.

The Lung Association relies on the generous support of donors to fund world-class respiratory research. To learn more about how you can help, visit Breathingasone.ca.

About the Canadian Lung Association

Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung health issues.