They’re often a sign of weight gain but look out; those love handles could be squeezing more than just your waistline.

“We know that people who are overweight tend to have a decrease in lung function,” says Dr. Sunil Pammi, a pulmonary physician with Lee Memorial Health System.

He adds it’s your diaphragm that’s feeling the most pressure. “The diaphragm is a muscle that actually allows air to move in and out of people’s lungs.” The more weight, the more pressure on the lungs.

Here’s a quick test to check your risk. Men, if your waist circumference is more than 40 inches, you are considered abdominally obese and at a higher risk of lung problems. Ladies, yours is 35 inches or more. “It basically works like a piston and it sits right in between your chest wall and your abdomen so if you have excess weight around the abdomen, your preventing that piston from moving down fully and allowing the person to get the full amount of air they should get,” explains Dr. Pammi.

Losing the weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one way to keep those lungs functioning properly. Your doctor can also prescribe various exercises that can help take off some of that weight around the middle.