Love handles...

Carrying extra weight around your middle decreases the efficiency of your lungs, say scientists

Love handles are not as innocent as their rather reassuring name suggests, a study reveals.It found that carrying excess fat around your middle makes breathing more difficult and impairs lung function.

The study, by the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, looked at the medical histories of 120,000 men and women.

Each had their lung function measured in relation to their body mass index and waist circumference, and their smoking history recorded.

The team also looked to see if there was an association between lung function and metabolic syndrome - a collection of health problems including high blood pressure and cholesterol which are strongly linked to carrying excess weight around the middle.

During the study, abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist circumference of greater than 35ins (89cm) for women and 40ins (102cm) for men.

Study leader Dr Natalie Leone said: 'We found a positive independent relationship between lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome due mainly to obesity.'

The results were independent of a person's smoking history and their overall body mass index, she told the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Dr Noemi Eiser, of the British Lung Foundation, said: 'It is widely known that obesity and a lack of exercise is detrimental to your health but this research highlights how being overweight affects your lungs.(Read the press release...)

'A reduction in lung function was not just recorded for the morbidly obese, but women who had a waist of 35ins had an 8 per cent reduction. This reinforces the need to lead a healthy lifestyle and how a small accumulation of fat can have a significant effect on your lung health.'

In a commentary Dr Paul Enright of the University of Arizona said there is now enough evidence to include waist measurements as part of routine assessments of lung function.

'Abdominal obesity could then be highlighted on the printed report so that the physician interpreting the report could take the effect of obesity into account,' he wrote.

My waist is 44" and yes, I do sometimes find it difficult to breathe...