What about ear infections and tonsillectomies?
4. A researcher at the University of Florida posed the question during studies concerning nerve damage caused by early childhood ear infections. Derek Snyder wondered if repeated or severe an ear infection, which can damage a taste nerve running through the middle ear, could cause people to tasted food less intensely than others who had not suffered the damage, thus leading to childhood obesity and obese adults.
After tabulating 6584 questionnaires, the team discovered that respondents over 35 who had suffered several ear infections had almost double the chance of being obese.
After responding to additional questions, it was found that patients who had suffered repeated ear infections as a child were a little more likely to crave sweets and fatty foods – perhaps because the damaged nerve caused them to have a higher threshold for sensing sweetness and fattiness.
In another study, preschoolers with a history of frequent ear infections were found to eat fewer vegetables and more sweets than children who did not have frequent ear infections. They also tended to be heavier.
Childhood ear infections are as hard to avoid as the colds that tend to bring them on, but knowing that they may contribute to childhood obesity can spark that proactive tendency in you to fix the problem. If you’re an overweight adult who suffered a severe ear infection as a child, it may be worth paying attention to the taste and texture of your food and try healthier substitutes, such as fresh fruit instead of sweets, or olive oil instead of butter. If it works for you, it will most likely work for your child if they too have had ear infections.
People with a history of frequent ear infections were found to be 62% more likely to be obese than people who reported no history of ear infection. Some of the sweeter fruits you might try are: mangos, figs, kiwis, apricots and even the ever abundant bananas, pears and oranges.
If ear infections weren’t bad enough news for concerned parents dealing with childhood obesity, re-examination of data from a large, national health survey conducted in the 1960s found a 30% increase in obesity risk among children who had tonsillectomies. While tonsillectomies are not as prevalent as in the past, it isn’t too much of a stretch to wonder if repeated sore throats could also cause taste nerve damage.
As with most of the new finding concerning childhood obesity, not everyone is convinced and more, in depth, studies are definitely in order. What are your thoughts?…..
Next – The stress factor…
Tags: childhood obesity, obese, obesity, overweight
