Non-pharmacological treatments in asthma patients with obesity

Abstract

In this thesis, we focussed on the management of obese patients with asthma. Based on

the available knowledge about the obesity and asthma relationship, and the effects of

different weight loss interventions in obese asthmatics, we defined the following aims

for this thesis: 1. To gain insight in the effects of exercise training in obese asthmatics and to determine the feasibility and effects of high intensity training in obese subjects 2. To design a pulmonary rehabilitation program for obese patients with suboptimal controlled asthma and to determine the effectiveness of this program in a randomized controlled trial 3. To improve our knowledge on the pathophysiology of obesity related asthma 4. To gain insight in the risks and long-term effects of bariatric surgery in morbidly obese subjects with asthma. ​​​​​​​