Ear infections

I read in something a couple of weeks ago that said scientists have discovered a correlation between being overweight and having had ear infections as a child.  They have discovered that if you had a tonsillectomy, your chances of being overweight as an adult were even greater.  The article said that the ear infections destroy a nerve that affects taste and that without it one is more inclined to crave sweets and fats.  I had informally observed this among my acquaintances many years ago, but at the time there was nothing official that made the connection.

Ok,  now for a very unscientific poll.  How many of you had ear infections as a child, to the point that you needed tubes or some other treatment?  How many had your tonsils taken out?  I score on both points.  I had a lot of ear infections as a kid and as an adult (I've since chalked them up to having parents who smoked.  I smoked as a young adult, and when I quit, the ear infections quit.)  I also had my tonsils out when I was six.  (Mom says that I did start getting fat and eating sugar at six.)

If you're curious yourself here's a link to the Washington Post article:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08 /14/AR2008081402995.html

If you Google "ear infections obesity" you'll see a lot of articles on this.

I'll be interested in what you all say.

Take care.

Marcia

That's very interesting information. I had tonsillitis all the time as a child and often had ear infections as a result. I never had tubes nor did I get my tonsills out... although they were considering it. However, I was never fat as a child.... I got fat after I started having babies and couldn't drop those extra baby pounds before I got pregnant again.  Oh and I grew up in a smokers home... my mom smokes.  It's an interesting study thanks for sharing.

I never had tubes either, because I don't think they were putting tubes in kid's ears in the early '50's.  However, I did have the ear infections and the tonsillectomy.

I was just wondering.  No matter what, I agree, it is an interesting study.  It might explain a few things.

Marcia

Interesting article! I didn't have chronic ear infections or tonsillitis as a child, though. I had one ear infection when I was 4, but that's it.

I had tons of ear infection as a child but they never offered tubes way back then but intresting enough my son kyle had severe ear infection and had tubes in his ears and had a Tand A and is the heavest child of all my children and he is thinking about getting wls .. hmmmmmmmmmmm
We were never around people who smoked tho..I am highly allergic to tobacco ..
Lisa

Lisa, hmmmm....  (what was it Arsenio did when he had his talk show?  Things that make you go 'hmmmmmmmmm'...)  Of course there are other things that cause ear infections (swimming, anyone?) but I really think in my case it was my parents' smoking.   We were Congressman's kids, so at least four times every year (sometimes more) we were cooped up in the car for three days driving from Washington DC to Raymond, Mississippi or from Raymond to Washington.  That's cooped up with what amounts to a chain smoker and a not-so-chain smoker.   I also got car sick a lot; that had to be the smoking as well.  You're lucky that you were known to be allergic.  Didn't have to put up with that. 

Anyway, thanks for the reply.  I'll add your son to the "yes" column of my unscientific survey.

Marcia

Oh man, my whole childhood was spent in a car with the windows rolled up, and both parents in the front seat smoking! I used to get SO carsick every trip. Ah, the past-wan't it lovely!?