Children and adolescents who eat fast food at least three times a week are also at risk of severe asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis in addition to obesity, according to international research published in the Thorax journal.
In turn, eating large amounts of fruit protects against the symptoms of these conditions.
Researchers from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, together with colleagues from Germany, Spain, Australia and Great Britain, came to such conclusions after analyzing the data collected in a total of over 500 people. children from dozens of countries around the world. All of them participated in the International Study of Childhood Asthma and Allergy (ISAAC). Among the respondents, over 319 thousand were teenagers aged 13-14, and over 181 thousand. children 6-7 years old.
In younger children, parents completed questionnaires about the symptoms of asthma (such as wheezing, shortness of breath), allergic rhinitis (runny nose, stuffy nose, watery and itchy eyes), and atopic dermatitis, once referred to as eczema (redness and swelling of the skin). , dry flaky skin on the body, blisters with a watery discharge, itching and burning). They also provided information on the frequency of toddlers eating various foods in the last 12 months. Consideration was given to, inter alia, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, grains, legumes, butter, potatoes, nuts, margarine, milk, eggs and fast food.
Older children filled in the questionnaires alone.
They found that only fast food such as burgers, fries, and other foods high in unhealthy trans and saturated fats were associated with an increased risk of all three chronic conditions in both age groups.
Teenagers who ate at least three servings of fast food a week were 39 percent. more likely to develop severe asthma compared to their peers eating healthier. In the group of children, the risk was 27% higher.
Fast-food also increased the risk of severe atopic dermatitis and hay fever.
In turn, eating a minimum of three portions of fruit a week lowered the risk of severe asthma by 11 percent. in teenagers and by 14 percent. in children, as well as the risk of other health conditions.
The authors of the study emphasize that their study does not prove that fast food contributes to severe asthma and other allergic problems. Nor does it mean that by eating less of these foods you will be able to alleviate their symptoms.
On the other hand, having these health problems only in children who eat fast food frequently increases the likelihood of a cause-and-effect relationship, the researchers say.
Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that a diet rich in such foods contributes to the increase in the incidence of asthma and allergic diseases. If future research confirms this, it will have a huge impact on public health, given the popularity of junk food, the researchers estimate.
They also point out that the relationships they observe can be justified. Fast food is high in saturated and trans fats, which are known to be detrimental to health, including immune function. In turn, fruits are a rich source of antioxidants and other substances beneficial to health.
“Our research clearly shows that fruit and vegetables have a protective effect and fast foods have proven to be a risk factor,” comments co-author Dr. Gabriele Nagle from the University of Ulm in Germany. In her opinion, these results can be the basis for issuing dietary recommendations aimed at preventing asthma and allergies in childhood. (PAP)
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