Study Links Fast Food And Asthma, Allergies

Fast food can be easy, tasty and most times, it's what kids really want.

A study from the Journal Thorax shows it may be making kids gain more than weight - it may be adding to their allergies.

Dr. Kenneth Arnett, a local doctor with a focus in Pediatric Allergies, said, "Some of it has to do with the amount of fat content in it. If you break down fat a certain way, you're going to come up with different chemicals called prostaglandin which are known to cause more problems with asthma."

The study said kids who eat fast food three or more times a week are facing a more than 30 percent increased risk for some allergies.

Dr. Arnett said a child's diet is always part of the conversation. Arnett said, "I do ask them about their diet and what they're say we need to make some smarter decisions and we really try to encourage the fruits and we really try to encourage the vegetables."

In fact, the study said fruits and veggies do the exact opposite of fast food. Dr. Arnett said they can protect you from allergies and illness. "We have to look at those kinds of things and say hey, you know maybe it'd be good if you tried to make more of these things at home instead of using prepared, canned or packaged foods."

His advice? Skip the drive through dinners and fill up on the foods that will make you feel better. He said, "Maybe there's something in the fats and fast foods that is causing a problem with allergies, asthma, and things like that. But if we avoid the fast foods, you won't have to worry about that."

Dr. Arnett said it's important to note the study is showing a correlation. He said fast foods are not the cause of allergies, but just a possible contributing factor.