Each year medical professionals in the area gather together to learn the latest on Asthma research and guidelines.

This year, the teaching day focused on two related problems.

Asthma and Obesity.

That's this week's Steps to a healthier New York.

These medical professionals are learning more about asthma today.

This Annual Pulmonary Teaching Day is being put on through The Asthma Coalition of the Southern Tier, in connection with the Steps to a Healthier New York program.

"We are trying to bring awareness to the community and to the providers regarding asthma and the correlation to obesity," says asthma coordinaor Judy Masciarelli.

Dr. Fernando Holquin is explaining how the two effect each other.

He broke it down in laymen terms for us to understand.

"There are substances that are produced by fat cells that actually can effect the way the lung works. Thats one and the other one is as individuals gain weight, their lung volumes or their airways become smaller, and as they become smaller they're more likely to be twitchy and produce symptoms like coughing and wheezing," says Holquin.

And he says this is a growing problem.

30 percent of the adult US population is classified as being obese and about 12 percent have asthma.

But even if you fall into either of those categories, it's not too late to change your lifestyle.

"People at home can watch their weight, try to take care of themselves, talk to their doctor if they see that they're having some breathing issues and also check their weight and watch to make sure their keeping that down as well," says Masciarelli.

For more information, log onto broomesteps.org.