Fast Food Consumption May Be Linked to Asthma, Eczema, and Hay Fever

The British Medical Journal Thorax released a new study Monday stating that they feel there may be a distinct correlation between fast food consumption in children and the disease process of asthma, eczema and hay fever.

“The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study used written questionnaires completed by 319,196 13- and 14-year-olds from 51 countries and by the parents of 181,631 6- and 7-year-olds in 31 countries.”  The survey asked the respondents if they had symptoms of the three conditions and about their weekly diet – including the types of foods they ate over the last year, and how often.

“We found clear associations between certain foods and severe asthma, hay fever (or allergic rhino conjunctivitis) and eczema in the largest study of allergies in children (aged 6-7 years) and adolescents (13-14 years) to date,” said study author Hywel Williams of the Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology, Queen’s Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.  According to Williams, the associations between allergic diseases and fast food were “only really convincing for severe disease.”[1]

Children who ate fruit at least three times a week seemed to have a protection against asthma. Those who consumed fast food three times a week had a 30% increase in asthma, hay fever, and eczema. Economic status and gender did not change the results. The researchers were careful to point out that there could be other factors that were not measured that influenced the outcomes the patients experienced. The researchers also stated that further studies should be done to see if a correlation between fast food and illnesses exist because of the increase consumption that is occurring worldwide. The biggest point that the study emphasized is that parents need to encourage a balance between fast food consumption and getting their children fresh fruits in their diet as well.