Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 7: Carrying excess weight may be doing more than just straining the heart — it could also be ageing your lungs ahead of time, according to a new study by scientists from the University of Bonn, Germany.

Published in the journal Cell Reports, the research reveals that severe obesity alters the structure of lung tissue in ways that resemble the natural ageing process, leading to reduced elasticity and potential breathing difficulties.

The researchers focused on the extracellular matrix — the complex network of proteins that forms the structural scaffolding of the lungs. In obese individuals, this matrix undergoes significant remodeling, disrupting normal lung function and mimicking the biological changes typically seen in older adults.

“These changes suggest that obesity doesn’t just impact lung function — it actually accelerates the biological ageing of lung tissue,” the researchers explained.

Using multi-omics technologies, the team simultaneously studied proteins, lipids, and gene activity in lung tissue. Their analysis spanned microscopic imaging, lung function testing, and comparisons between obese and lean mice, as well as tests on human lung connective tissue cells.

The study found that in obese individuals, lung fibroblasts — the connective tissue cells — accumulate fat, become unusually mobile, and display signs of early ageing. These changes are accompanied by an imbalance in protease inhibitors and a deterioration of the lung’s structural matrix — all of which reduce the lungs’ ability to expand and contract efficiently.

“The lungs become less elastic, which could explain why people with obesity often report shortness of breath or respiratory discomfort,” the authors noted.

One of the major scientific hurdles, they said, was studying the fibroblastic stroma, a complex network of various cell types and largely insoluble proteins that form the lungs’ connective tissue. Despite these challenges, the team was able to map out how overnutrition and fat accumulation disrupt this system at both molecular and functional levels.

In conclusion, the study provides strong evidence that obesity may not only impair lung function but also act as a silent driver of premature lung ageing — potentially setting the stage for chronic respiratory issues later in life.