Fast Food Linked to Asthma and Eczema in Children

A recent study analyzed the dietary habits of more than 500,000 children and adolescents from more than 50 countries. The results, which were published online in the journal Thorax, showed that fast food may heighten the risk of asthma and increase the side effects of rhinitis and eczema. Fruit on the other hand was shown to be beneficial in warding off the conditions. The study authors report that fast food’s detrimental effects may be attributed to its high levels of trans fatty acids and saturated fats, which can negatively impact the immune system. “If the associations between fast foods and the symptom prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema is causal, then the findings have major public health significance owing to the rising consumption of fast foods globally,” note the researchers.