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Last Updated: Mar 29, 2009 - 5:58:43 PM |
Ear infections linked to obesity risk
A few studies showed that ear infections in children could raise the risk of obesity in adulthood. Researchers said that chronic ear infections cause damage that could enhance people's preference for fatty or sweet foods, increasing risk of being overweight or obese as they age. The studies were presented at the American Psychological Association's 116th Annual Convention Thursday in Boston.
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.
Below is another report showing MSG may raise the risk of obesity.
MSG Linked to Increased Obesity Risk
MONDAY AUGUST 18, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Using monosodium glutamate or MSG, the probably second most important flavor enhancer in the word may increase risk of being overweight or obese, according to a new study.
The study showed those who used the most MSG were nearly three times more likely to be overweight than those who did not use. The results were published this month in the journal Obesity.
For the study, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health and colleagues in China looked at data for 750 Chinese men and women aged 40 to 59 in three rural villages in north and south China to examine the association between use of MSG and incidence of obesity.
About 82 percent of the participants used MSG in their food prepared at home. Participants rarely used processed foods so that amounts of MSG can be assessed relatively accurately.
Based on intake of MSG, participants were divided into three groups. The researchers found those who used the highest amounts of MSG were three times more likely than non-users to be overweight.
"Animal studies have indicated for years that MSG might be associated with weight gain," said Ka He, M.D., assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the UNC School of Public Health. "Ours is the first study to show a link between MSG use and weight in humans."
It makes sense that use of MSG increases the risk of obesity because MSG enhances the flavor of a dish boosting intake of calories. But the effect of MSG may not be as simple as that.
Dr. He said "We saw this risk even when we controlled for physical activity, total calorie intake and other possible explanations for the difference in body mass. The positive associations between MSG intake and overweight were consistent with data from animal studies."
Incidence of obesity is on the rise worldwide. In the United States along with other industrialized countries, the obesity rate is much higher than in poor countries.
"In 2007, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; three of these states (Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states.
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other health organizations around the world have concluded that MSG is safe,” Dr He said, “but the question remains – is it healthy?"
Ironically, use of MSG is very common in China as the current study indicated while prevalence of obesity and overweight is much lower than that for the U.S. where MSG is commonly rejected fearing of the Chinese restaurant syndrome.
A health observer suggests that if MSG does anything at all to boost the odds of people getting obese, the risk is relatively small. He said more people in east China are now becoming obese apparently because of their better financial status.
What could a better financial status do to help increase the risk of obesity? The problem with money is probably that if you are rich, chances are good that you eat more meat, which is more costly than plant-based foods.
Dr. Colin T. Campbell, a Cornell University nutritionist, conducted a landmark nutrition study early in China suggesting that meat consumption is associated with increased risk of obesity and overweight. By comparison, people who eat more calories from plant foods such as grain products are actually less likely to become overweight.
© 2004-2008 by foodconsumer.org unless otherwise specified
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