This project is complete.

Location

Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal

Category

Asthma, Respiratory

Summary

Canadian statistics indicate that more than half of those with asthma poorly control their disease and live with symptoms that diminish their quality of life. Obesity and being overweight are recognized as important risk factors for asthma and affect about 65% of asthmatics. Furthermore, studies show that obesity and asthma are both associated with psychological problems such as anxiety, depressive episodes and eating disorders. For example, the prevalence of anxiety disorders and mood disorders is twice as high in asthmatics as in the general population. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven effective for weight control and treatment of various psychological disorders. However, to our knowledge, no study has evaluated the effectiveness of a behavioral weight control program (including CBT techniques) on asthma control and quality of life, as well as on psychological factors in obese or overweight asthmatics. The current pilot project aims to generate data on the level of change that could be observed, following a behavioral weight control program, in the control of asthma symptoms (e.g., taking medication) and the quality of life in overweight asthmatic patients.