*2.2.1 Reduced compliance of lungs*

Increased fat deposition in the mediastinum and abdominal cavity increases intra-abdominal and pleural pressure, thus reducing compliance of the lungs. Altered breathing pattern, with decrease in expiratory reserve volume (ERV), functional reserve capacity (FRC), and tidal volume (TV), with slight increase in mean respiratory rate have been reported in subjects with obesity [22, 23], Obesity has little effect on the residual volume (RV) and total lung capacity (TLC) [24].
