Experts raise doubts about ear infections link to obesity

15 August 2008

A history of severe ear infections or tonsil trouble may increase the chances of being obese later in life, according to scientists. However, a number of UK experts raised doubts about the findings, with one saying a link was "extremely unlikely".

About a third of children get recurrent otitis media and research presented at a US conference suggests a link. Infections may affect food choices by damaging nerves involved in taste, the researchers said.

Five separate studies aired at the American Psychological Association's conference hinted at an association between either ear infection or tonsil removal surgery and obesity.

However, UK experts raised doubts about the strength of the findings.

Paediatric ear, nose and throat surgeon Ray Clarke, from Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, said it was well known that severe ear infections, and operations, could affect taste. However, he said there was no other evidence that this could play a role in developing obesity.

He said: "There may well be some other common factor in obesity.

"In terms of tonsillectomies, these are frequently given to children with breathing problems such as sleep apnoea, which is certainly linked to being overweight in adults, and may be linked to weight in children."

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said: "The potential link as reported leaves us somewhat agog.

"It is possible for there to be a link between otitis externa - a different form of ear infection - and obesity, because of the connection between obesity and type II diabetes, which can contribute to this condition."

Professor Mark Haggard, from the charity Deafness Research UK, said while there was a small chance that there might be an underlying genetic predisposition to both severe ear infections and obesity, the associations found here should not be overplayed.

"A connection is not impossible, but to be frank, is extremely unlikely," he said.

Source: BBC News
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