American Chemical Society's Weekly PressPac -- Aug. 20, 2008

Childhood ear infections may contribute to obesity later in life, researchers say. Click here for more information.

ARTICLE #1

Childhood ear infections may predispose to obesity later in life

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time

Researchers are reporting new evidence of a possible link between a history of moderate to severe middle ear infections in childhood and a tendency to be overweight later in life. Their study suggests that prompt diagnosis and treatment of middle ear infections — one of the most common childhood conditions requiring medical attention — may help fight obesity in some people.

Study leader Linda M. Bartoshuk noted that chronic, repeated ear infections can damage the chorda tympani nerve, which passes through the middle ear and controls taste sensations. Damage to this nerve appears to intensify the desire for fatty or high-energy foods, which could result in obesity, she said.

Other research has shown that middle ear infections, or otitis media, are becoming more common in children. Childhood obesity is likewise on the rise and has reached epidemic levels, particularly in the United States. Although scientists have known for years that ear infections can lead to hearing loss in children that can result in speech and language impairment, a possible link between ear infections and obesity has been largely unexplored until now, said Bartoshuk.

In the new study, scientists reviewed data collected from 245 patients (age 30 and older) with a history of middle ear infections and 1,055 patients with no such history. The study included questions about the patients' dietary preferences among a set of 26 common foods and beverages ranging from low-fat to fatty foods. The researchers found that those with a history of ear infections were more likely to report a higher, more intense preference for fatty foods than others and were twice as likely to be obese. — MTS

ARTICLE #1 EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time

For full-text of press release:
http://oasys.acs.org/output/process_last_run/acs/236nm/-acs-236nm-newsservice-webprogram-cgi.html

CONTACT:
Linda M. Bartoshuk, Ph.D.
University of Florida
Gainesville, Fla. 32608
Phone: 352-273-5119
Email: