Although you may lose your appetite if you are breathless, it is important to eat well. With COPD more energy is required by the body for breathing, so you need to alter your diet to allow for this.
People with chronic lung conditions use 25 – 50% more energy compared to people with healthy lungs.
If you are overweight your breathlessness may become worse as your body works harder to carry extra weight. Carrying too much weight also places pressure on your heart and lungs and increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. To lose weight, you will need to eat fewer fatty and sugary foods and more vegetables, lean meats and poultry.
For more information on what foods are best to eat, ask your healthcare practitioner to refer you to a dietitian.
