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Last Updated: Oct 29, 2008 - 11:04:25 AM |
Friday August 15,2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Damage caused by chronic ear infections could enhance people's preference for fatty or sweet foods, increasing risk of being overweight or obese as they age, according to studies presented at the American Psychological Association's 116th Annual Convention Thursday in Boston.
Researchers speculated that ear infections cause taste damage in a way that causes people to eat more fatty and sweet foods increasing their risk of obesity.
Linda Bartoshuk, PhD, of the University of Florida College of Dentistry presented some preliminary findings that show a strong association between localized taste damage from chronic middle ear infections, or otitis media, and an increased preference for high-fat foods.
A study of 6,584 people age 16 to 92 found those with a moderate to severe history of middle ear infections were 62 percent more likely to be obese. Bartoshuk noted that the overall rate of obesity in this sample population was less than the general population.
John Hayes, PhD, of Brown University and his collaborators at the University of Connecticut, found there are associations between otitis media exposure, taste, food choice and obesity.
Their study showed among middle-aged women, those with taste functioning consistent with taste nerve damage preferred sweet and high fat foods more compared to others with damage and were more likely to have larger waists.
In another study, they found preschoolers with a severe history of ear infections tended to prefer sweets to vegetables and tended to be heavier than others.
"This suggests that taste damage from ear infections may alter food choice and thus lead to obesity risk." said Hayes.
Evidence also indicates that damage to other taste nerves may also be associated with weight gain. Epidemiologist Howard Hoffman at National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD re-examined the National health Examination survey conducted in the 1960s in 13,887 children aged 6 to 17 and found those who had their tonsils removed were at a higher risk of becoming overweight.
Younger children aged 6 to 11 who had tonsillectomies were 40 percent more likely to be overweight at the time of the survey, according to a recent analysis . Teen girls with their tonsils removed were 30 percent more likely to be overweight.
Hoffman said tonsillectomies were a common treatment for chronic ear infections. He said "This data suggests that there are lingering effects of tonsillectomies on taste nerves and that can affect eating habits."
A third study led by epidemiologist Kathleen Daly, PhD, of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, also showed ear infections treated with tubes were linked to higher body mass index in toddlers.
"Obesity has doubled over the past 20 years among preschool children. The more data we collect on what contributes to this major public health problem, the greater likelihood that we can help prevent it," said Daly.
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