McCallister M, et al. - In this retrospective analysis of a Latino cohort of children recruited from birth and followed up until 9 years of age, researchers determined the incidence of asthma and risk factors for asthma and for an early asthma (defined as <4 years of age) diagnosis in relation to obesity. They analyzed maternal reports and medical records of the children at 9 years of age, to assess asthma. They used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate independent and sex-specific risk factors for asthma diagnosis. In the girls studied in this high-risk Latino cohort, an association was observed between obesity and asthma development. Relative to an earlier diagnosis, a possible association of an asthma diagnosis after 4 years of age with environmental toxin exposure and early consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was also suggested.