Adults with asthma are more likely to develop obesity later in life, particularly if they are non-atopic and have the disease for a long period, researchers have shown for the first time.

Data on more than 8700 patients from Australia and 11 European countries showed patients with asthma had a 21% overall increased relative risk of obesity compared with patients without asthma.

Having asthma for more than 20 years was associated with a 32% increased risk compared with shorter duration, and non-atopic asthma was associated with a 47% increased risk compared with atopic asthma, the study found.

In addition, patients taking oral corticosteroids had nearly double the risk of later obesity compared with patients not taking these drugs, said the researchers, who included Professor Michael Abramson from Monash University’s school of public health and preventive medicine.