Obesity Decreases Lung Function in Older Adults

Study shows similar patterns occurring in men and women

Minneapolis—In a new study, researchers found that older adults with obesity had significantly decreased measures of lung function compared to those without obesity, and the results were consistent among men and women. These results could be important for the care of older adults with obesity, and especially those who are referred for clinical exercise testing for unexplained shortness of breath. Researchers will present their work this week at the 2026 American Physiology Summit in Minneapolis. The Summit is the flagship annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS).

“Obesity can decrease lung function in older adults,” said the study’s first author Sarah Skillett, MS, who participated in the conduct of the research at the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 30% of U.S. adults age 65 and older have obesity, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and other health problems. These new findings suggest that older people with obesity face detriments in lung function beyond the natural declines that occur as we age, which could be an important contributor to exertional symptoms such as shortness of breath and exercise intolerance.

The researchers assessed the body composition and lung function of 59 older adults. Participants were 70 years old, on average, and just under half had obesity. Overall, participants with obesity had a higher percentage of total body fat, trunk fat and visceral fat (deep abdominal fat around the organs) compared with those who were without obesity.

Participants with obesity had significantly lower total lung capacity, which represents the amount of air in the lungs after inhaling deeply. They also had lower lung function in terms of other measures used, including the amount of air that leaves the lungs during a full exhalation, the speed of a forceful exhalation, and the amount of air left in the lungs after a full exhalation.

The study’s principal investigator, Tony Babb, PhD, professor of internal medicine in the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, said that “the effects of obesity should be carefully considered by clinicians and healthcare providers when assessing lung function in older adults.”

The researchers expected to find differences in lung function between men and women with obesity, since the distribution of fat tissue in the body can vary by sex. The results did show that women had more fat as a percentage of total body weight, while men had more trunk fat and visceral fat as a percentage of total body fat. However, these differences in fat distribution did not translate into any significant differences in lung function by sex.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: The American Physiology Summit will be held April 23–26, 2026, in Minneapolis. To schedule an interview with the researchers, conference organizers or presenters, or to request the abstract “Effects of Obesity and Fat Distribution on Pulmonary Function in Older Men and Women,” contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314. Find more highlights from the meeting in our Newsroom. 

Physiology reveals how life works—from cells to body systems—and drives the scientific discoveries that transform health and save lives. It provides the foundation every medical advancement depends on. The American Physiological Society champions physiology—the science life depends on. It connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work.