I have been told it will. I was diagnosed 7 months ago. I've lost 30 pounds since then. I think it has helped along with adding Symbicort with the Spiriva.
It's worth a try!
Linda

Yes, weight loss can improve shortness of breath. See how obesity affects COPD:

http://copd.about.com/od/copd/a/obesityandcopd.htm

Buickoreo,

There is a woman on another copd forum whose story may interest you. In 2003, she left the hospital on oxygen, very overweight and with a boat load of medications.

Over the next 18 months, she lost 100 pounds through diet and exercise. She was able to drop a number of her medications and get off oxygen completely. She stayed off oxygen for the next 8 years.

Four years ago she went back on oxygen at night and when exercising (and for flying). She needs O2 so she can exercise as hard as she needs to. She's very active and travels by air at least twice a month.

She says diet, exercise and her significant weight loss have given her a very good quality of life for the last 12 years. She's an inspiration to me.

Susan

it sure couldn't hurt, i get more SOB when i have to carry groceries or other weight like bags of dog food in; so it seems like it does for me.

Yep - Got off all the whites and have been able to drop 20% of my body weight decreasing my body mass index, decreasing the stress on my feet, ankles, hips, back etc. also decreasing the fat and flab around my diaphragm exerting less stress on my enlarged lungs - gotta believe that regimented weight loss with exercise is a body functional asset/ hank

Boldprint, that is very encouraging. I have arthritis, colitis and some skin fragility partially from the meds I take. My nurse practitioner wanted me to try to stop the NSAIDS and suggested I try stopping wheat. She has rheumatoid arthritis and controls it with diet. I took her advice and lost 20 lbs in 2 months. I have not substituted the wheat free products as a habit, since I really need to lose another 40 lbs. I will say that my joints are better, the colitis is GONE and I sometimes forget I have lungs, my way of knowing I am doing better. I also have a new primary who prescribes supplements and monitors my labs for me. Frankly, I thought the whole wheat free thing was a gimmick, but it seems to be helping me. I have a ct scan this week for a pulmonary nodule. I have lung function tests after that. Hoping for good results. Thanks to all of you for your support- I haven't been on in awhile because of lots of family and work things going on, but really happy you are here.

@MOTSY - not a gimmick - that's what I meant when I said dump the whites - ppl should do themselves a favor and buy a used book online from Amazon called "WHEATBELLY" and gauranteed. will stop eating wheat and wheat products /hank

hanko125- thanks for the support- My old family doc insisted I had to eat whole grains, but I am on a path that is helping so I don't much care what anyone says-I have Wheat Belly and also Grain Brain- both say avoid wheat, but Grain Brain (Perlmutter) is about cognitive decline and other neurological issues. I am working on some more dietary modifications, slowly so I don't overwhelm myself, but it really is encouraging!

BTW, the woman I referred to in my previous post is no spring chicken with mild or even moderate copd.

Her FEV1% has been in the mid-30s since her diagnosis in the early 2000s. She exercises at least 30-45 minutes (aerobic) exercise a day in addition to strength training 3 times a week.

She also is a COPD advocate for numerous organizations including EFFORTS (Emphysema Foundation For Our Right To Survive), the COPD Foundation and the American Lung Association.

Here is an article she wrote in Nov. 2013 about how exercise and diet help her manage her copd symptoms:

http://www.healthywomen.org/content/blog-entry/exercise-and-diet-help-me-manage-copd-symptoms-and-live-healthier-life

Susan