Weak Grip? You Might Be At Higher Risk For Asthma.

A 2025 study in Frontiers in Nutrition by Wen et al. analyzed data from 27,185 adults (cross-sectional) and 18,047 adults over 30 months (prospective cohort) across Europe. They found that low handgrip strength and low relative handgrip strength were strongly linked to increased odds and risk of asthma—by up to 50% for those at the lowest quartile of grip strength.

Machine-learning models confirmed muscle strength ranked among the top predictors of asthma, alongside age and chronic lung disease. Importantly, malnutrition partially explained (~2.7%) this link, suggesting undernourished individuals with weak muscles are especially vulnerable.

Check your grip—literally. Building muscle and improving nutrition may be a smart, simple strategy to lower asthma risk and protect respiratory health.