There is an ongoing controversial debate on a potential association between obesity (BMI >30) and atopic sensitiza-tion as well as a possible sex difference in this association in children and adults [1-3], Recently, Chen et al. [1] demonstrated in a study of 1,997 adults that the prevalence of atopy is significantly associated with obesity but restricted to women. They assessed atopic sensitization by a positive skin prick test (SPT) result. However, in other big studies no relationship was found, e.g. in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) of 13,909 young adults which used specific IgE measured by RAST as indicator of atopic sensitization [3].
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