Chronic Ear Infections May Be Linked to Obesity

Author: Heather Hajek

Those agonizing ear infections that many have as children could lead to obesity later in life. It is thought that chronic ear infections, also called Otitis Media, in children may damage their nerves, which control their taste buds, leading children to prefer more fatty non-healthy foods and may lead to obesity later in life.

While there are surgeries that may help to prevent chronic ear infections, it seems the surgeries may also cause damage to a patient's taste buds. In today's environment, many children either receive tubes to help drain excess fluid from the ears or they may even have their tonsils removed in an effort to ward off chronic ear infections. While the surgeries may help to prevent the ear infections, it may cause damage to taste buds and lead patients to prefer more fatty or sweet foods that could lead to obesity later.

Recently there were several studies presented during the American Psychological Association's 116th annual meeting in Boston supporting the theory that chronic ear infections in children may lead to obesity. One of the studies, presented by Linda Bartoshuk, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, College of Dentistry, evaluated a group of 6,584 people ranging from 16 to 92, who had a history of severe middle ear infections. They found that over 60 percent of the group was more likely to be obese.

John Hayes of Brown University, in another study presented, evaluated 110 middle-aged women who had tastes that were similar to those with nerve damage. They determined it wasn't how much fatty food they ate. Rather, it was how much they preferred fatty foods and sweets that was the best predictor of their weight.

Another group studied tonsillectomies and taste preference, and their effects on children's weight. Researchers determined children from 6 to 11 who had their tonsils removed, compared to children who hadn't had tonsillectomies, were 40 percent more likely to be over weight. Howard Hoffman, one of the researchers said in the article: "A tonsillectomy may damage one of the nerves that carry taste information. In addition, ear infections can also alter taste. Altering taste does have an effect on the preferences for food."

Kathleen Daly, a professor of otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota, in another study, evaluated children from birth to a couple years old who had tubes placed in their ears, to help prevent middle ear nerve damage. Daly determined the tube surgery may help with the children's ear infections, but may also affect children's taste and increase their preference for more fattening foods. Daly said, "There was a trend, but not significant, for recurrent ear infection to lead to overweight."

While everyone's tastes vary along with their genes and physical activities, which can play roles in weight problems, these recent studies lend evidence to other culprits that may eventually lead to weight problems. As if having chronic ear pain wasn't enough, we may also be dealing with all of the side effects of being over weight later on in life, as a result of damage to our taste buds caused from either treatments for ear infections or the ear infections themselves.