Teenagers and young children who eat fast food could be
increasing their risk of developing asthma, eczema and hay
fever, according to a study published Monday in the British
Medical Journal's respiratory journal Thorax. The International
Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study used
written questionnaires completed by 319,196 13- and 14-year-olds
from 51 countries and by the parents of 181,631 6- and 7-year-
olds in 31 countries. They were asked if they had symptoms of
the three conditions and about their weekly diet - including the
types of foods they ate over the last year, and how often. "We
found clear associations between certain foods and severe
asthma, hay fever (or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis) and eczema
in the largest study of allergies in children (aged 6-7 years)
and adolescents (13-14 years) to date," said study author Hywel
Williams of the Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology, Queen's
Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK. According
to Williams, the associations be