How does body weight affect respiratory rate during exercise?

Carrying around excess body weight puts a great deal of strain on the entire body, including the respiratory system. People who are overweight have to work harder to do the same exact things that a person in the healthy weight range has to do. The more strenuously we exercise the more oxygen and nutrients need to be delivered to our bodies. The larger the body, the more oxygen and nutrients we need. As we continue to exercise our respirations become even faster in order to deliver what we need to survive. In addition, depending on how heavy a person is, extra weight can put pressure on the area around our lungs and heart which can cause additional labored breathing, increasing our rate of respiration even more.