Saturday, May 9, 2009

Obesity May Raise Kids' Allergy Risk

FRIDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) � Obese children and teens are at
increased risk for allergies, especially food allergies, say U.S.
researchers.


The study authors analyzed data from 4,111 participants, aged 2 to 19,
who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and
found that obese children and teens were 26 percent more likely to have
any kind of allergy, and 59 percent more likely to have a food allergy,
than their normal-weight peers.


"We found a positive association between obesity and allergies," senior
author Dr. Darryl Zeldin, acting clinical director at the U.S. National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), said in an institute
news release. "While the results from this study are interesting, they do
not prove that obesity causes allergies. More research is needed to
further investigate this potential link."


The study is in the May issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology.


"Given that the prevalence of both obesity and allergic disease has
increased among children over the last several decades, it is important to
understand and, if possible, prevent these epidemics," lead author Cynthia
M. Visness, a scientist at Rho Federal Systems Division Inc., in Chapel
Hill, N.C., said in the news release.


"Seeing a possible link between obesity and allergies provides
additional motivation for undertaking the challenge of reducing childhood
obesity," added Linda Birnbaum, NIEHS director.


More information


The Nemours Foundation has more about children and allergies.

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