Discovery of fast food and asthma

Study: Regular consumption of fast food can cause asthma in children.

According to a study by the University of Ulm, asthma diseases are much more common if children consume fast food products several times a week. However, the scientists point out that the consumption of fast food such as hamburger or sugary cola is no direct cause for the development of the respiratory disease asthma. Rather, the study gives an indication that a "large bundle" of dietary and lifestyle habits favor the onset of asthma.

During the study, data from 50,000 children aged 8-12 years from twenty different countries were evaluated. Parents should use a questionnaire to describe what their children are eating and whether the child is suffering from asthma symptoms. The scientists report that the diet has no influence on allergies caused by pollen, for example. Nevertheless, there is a connection between eating habits and asthma diseases or heavy wheezing. Children who ate fruit and vegetables more frequently suffered less from chronic respiratory disease. Children eating hamburgers a few times a week were much more likely to have asthma. However, in low-income countries, the incidence of asthma is not significantly higher, even if the child consumes fast food more often a week. About 300 million people around the world suffer from asthma, according to the WHO. In children, the disease is the most common chronic disease. Around 250,000 people die each year from the disease. (Sb)

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