Asthma and Obesity: Observational

The objective of this study is to examine novel biological and behavioral pathways that may
explain the association of obesity with asthma morbidity, and develop and pilot test
educational and counseling modules, based on self-regulation theory, that take an integrated
approach to asthma and obesity self-management support.

The Specific Aims are to:

1. Compare the longitudinal relationship between L-arginine/ADMA balance and morbidity
(lung function, asthma control, acute resource utilization, and quality of life) between
obese adults with late onset asthma vs. (a) obese adults with early onset asthma and
non-obese asthmatics with early (b) or late (c) onset disease. Age of asthma onset is as
categorized as early when developed ≤12 years of age or late when developed >12 years of
age.

2. Evaluate the interrelationship between obesity- and asthma-related illness beliefs, and
the impact of cognitive function, on patients' management of these conditions over time

Inclusion Criteria:

- >21 years with a diagnosis of asthma made by a health care provider and evidence of
airway reactivity (increase in FEV1 >12% and >200 ml after bronchodilators or positive
methacholine test) in prior lung function testing or baseline spirometry;

- prescribed an asthma controller medication;

- English or Spanish speaking.

Exclusion Criteria:

- chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or other chronic respiratory illness; - >15
pack-year smoking history because of the possibility of undiagnosed COPD;

- diagnosis of dementia identified in the clinical record.