asthma and hamburgers
 

Hamburgers cause asthma in kids, NZ research says
08 November 2005
By KENT ATKINSON

Eating hamburgers more than once a week nearly doubles the risk of asthma attacks and wheezing in children, according to research carried out on 1300 New Zealand school pupils.


Other takeaway food and fizzy drinks also increase the chances of getting asthma, doctors found.

Youngsters who eat at least one hamburger a week are 75 per cent more likely to have asthma and almost 100 per cent more likely to suffer wheezing problems, according to a study published yesterday in the international scientific journal Allergy.

The investigation of the extent to which fast foods are a risk factor for asthma, was led by Dr Kristen Wickens, of the Wellington Asthma Research Group, based at the Wellington medical school.

The group - investigating the role of lifestyle changes over the past 30 years in a big increase in allergic disease - correlated the consumption of fast food to the prevalence of asthma and allergy.

They used 1321 children in Hastings, aged between 10 and 12 years, and recorded their diet, as well as checking asthma and asthma symptoms as part of an international study of asthma and allergies in childhood known as ISAAC.

After adjusting for lifestyle factors, including other foods and how fat the children were - compared with children who never ate hamburgers - they found frequent consumption of hamburgers was linked to asthma symptoms.

And the higher the consumption of hamburgers meant higher incidence of asthma.

Asthma occurs in every country in the world and is worst in developed countries - which tend to have about 6 per cent of their population affected - but New Zealand has the highest incidence in developed countries: 20 per cent.

A greater proportion of the teenagers in New Zealand suffer from asthmatic symptoms, such as wheezing, breathlessness and tight-chestedness.

Some theories have blamed more westernised diets, higher standard of living, falling levels of exercise rates, and increased dustmites and pollution.

But Tokyo, with higher pollution than Wellington has only one fifth of the asthma incidence in Wellington, while the Scottish island of Skye has the highest incidence of asthma in Britain, and almost no pollution.

Dr Wickens, who led the Hastings study, said diets containing junk foods which are high in salt could be contributing to the problem.

"The high salt content in hamburgers may increase the risk of wheezy illness," she said.

...interesting..and worrying if you have kids.

Wow, that is really interesting. Thanks for posting. I'd like to study more about that.

If something is not good for you, it's just not. :shrug: If you don't eat mostly vegetables, and fruit, and whole grains, nuts, legumes, and lean meats (fish too) occasionally - if any meats at all - it's not going to work out for you (health, that is). There really are no tricks, it's just that simple. :shrug:

The more vegetables you eat, the more healthy you will be. It is really that obvious. I can't believe there are people in the U.S. who don't know that. :confused:
And Hamburgers are the opposite of vegetables...:p

Anyway, I've never heard about fatty red meat's link to Asthma, but I have no trouble believing it's possible - probable, really.

Thanks again. :wavey:

that is a strange connection to make...I wonder if there arent other possible common factors besides a fast food diet to make kids wheeze....my sister had asthma all her life and I know for a fact she didnt eat fast food. All we EVER had was home cooked meals (once in awhile we went to a sit down restaurant for steak or something like that)

I have heard that the phosphorus in sodas leaches calcium from your bones and that is why you shouldnt give sodas to kids, but the hamburger connection, I just dont see it! Thats not to say that I think fast food is healthy, because it definitely isnt! I agree with Amber that there are definitely healthier items you could be eating--but I just think that study's results are odd. :shrug:

I wonder why New Zealand has such a disproportionately high number of Asthma incidences (you cant all be fast food junkies LOL!) and why the US asthma figures arent higher than 6%?? Weird!

By the way, Tokyo (and all of Japan) has seemed to welcome a more Westernized diet, and studies have shown that the cholesterol levels have increased, but apparently not the asthma levels? Hmmmm And Scotland's asthma levels have increased? I cant imagine the fast food burger is to blame there......

on a side note: autism cases have also increased. I dont think anyone knows why......

Feh. Once a week? I eat a hamburger at least once a day, and I don't have asthma. :lol:

Once again, folks, you're all missing the big picture here. What's important to note is that "Asthma and Hamburgers" would make one hell of an album title.

Maybe for Stevie's next solo album?

Look at the source: NZ. Explains everything. Besides a burger is just red meat...as for the salt comment they make...that is something the cook adds or doesn't.

I still believe humans are omnivores. We should be eating a little of everything. Some foods seem to be better for some people. I heard it has to do with your blood type. I for one know I need meat. Maybe from my genetic background, but I need meat. Interesting since I have rather natural, sharp canine teeth. Ready to tear that meat. Red meat, white meat, fish meat. Yum. Vegetables suck.

I'm scared now :shocked: :laugh:

You were singing a different tune when you had that succulent burger at 9 Fine Irishmen in Vegas, my dear. ;)

I keed, I keed. :laugh: I know you don't eat like that often. But that was a damn good burger.

I wonder if it's the beef itself, or the hormones/stuff that farmers feed/inject cows with. :confused:

I'm eating salad with spinach, chick peas, olives, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, mozzarella, tofu, mushrooms, cucumbers and feta. Mmmm!!!

This is the first I am hearing of studies linking meat consumption with asthma. I have heard that dairy products can contribute to it though.

Oh man that's good...:lol:

****, everything's gonna kill you somehow. Give me my Egg McMuffin.

You know for me, I'm overweight a bit, but I don't blame anyone for that. I mean, no one forced me to eat that Big Mac. However, this theory is interesing about the asthma and hamburgers.

A lot of it has to do with the way your body stores fat, some bodies are more efficient at it. You should see how much thin people can eat! :mad:

Yeah, those A**HOLES!!! I like to tell all these thin twinks I see at the bar, well, hunny I may be fat, but I still get laid!!!!:D

I hate them.

Seriously though, I used to be a chubby...but then I simply started to do alot of physical activity and the weight melted off. I eat whatever I want...but I just know that I have to burn it off physically.

Course plenty of sex will suffice for excercise as well.