Ok, healthy eating guidelines do have something to do with obesity and they can actually play a pretty big role in preventing obesity.
This study out of the University of Florida though will continue to have searching for why obesity is such a problem.
The University of Florida researchers surveyed 1,300 people and found that those who had a history of ear infections had a 100% greater chance of developing obesity than those who didn’t.
Also, those with a history of ear infections rated fattier foods almost 20% more pleasureable than those without such infections.
The research suggests that ear infections damage a taste nerve that passes through the middle ear and damage to this nerve makes food taste creamier.
I would like to do my own informal study here and ask you if you are considered obese or overweight if you have ever had a history of ear infections when you were a child or as an adult.
Leave your responses below.
Yours in health,
Jayson Hunter RD, CSCS
America’s Trusted Weight Loss Expert
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I am 33 years old and have been considered obese since 2001. I did have a serious ear infection about 13 years ago and since then have a much milder form every so often.
Yes, I had been overweight until joining Fit Yummy Mummy with Holly Rigsby. I’ve had ear infections for about 10 years off and on. It’s considered either swimmer’s ear or eczema of the outer ear. I’m interested in what you find out.
I Have Been Overweight Most Of My Life I Have Had Alot Of Ear Infections As A Child And More So As An Adult I Am Also Interested To See What You Find Out.
Hi Jayson:
I can tell you this my youngest daughter had an ear infection and was on medication for months as a baby and she is almost 20 years old, eats horrible and is still thin as a rail.
I am 62 years old and had repeated ear infections as a child, which lead to otosclorosis and hearing loss. Until age 40, I was of normal weight. From that time on, my weight began to rise with the biggest gain between 50 and 60. Although I have had a few ear infections as an adult, I have not had an ear infection for 30 years.
I was definitely overweight most of my life until just a year and a half ago, and I did have more than usual ear infections as a child, and still some now. My eustachian tubes are a bit too small, and I also experience pressure changes much more than the average person (ears popping on things like hills in a car).
I have been obese (now down to overweight).
I’ve had ear infections, at one point once a year or so (but never diagnosed because they cleared up by the time I could see a doctor). I don’t recall having a lot of them as a child, and under a dozen as an adult.
After my daughter was born 11 years ago, I became extremely overweight. During this same period I had severe ear infections on my right side which lead to me losing 40% of my hearing on the right side. 3 years ago I decided to get a handle on my health through diet and exercise. I also read quite a few newsletter from some of the experts out there.
I had middle ear infections starting from when I was an infant until I was 19. I would have one either in one ear or the other or in both. Took a lot of antibiotics during that time. In my twenties I got two more ear infections and have had none since. I am now 54. I have never been obese or had a major weight issue. I always tried to watch what I eat. I did put on weight after having my children but managed to get most of it off. Now I am finding it harder to take the weight off. It does take will power and consistent good eating and no cheating.
I suffered from severe ear infections as an infant and it was only discovered after months of continuous medication & terrible high fevers (to the point where I was rushed into the ER and dunked into a bucket of ice), that I needed grommets in both ears. I am not obese but have been over weight most of my life! I till today suffer from ear pains when on flights & cant spend too much time in the pool.
I had many ear infections as a child with a ruptured ear drum on my right side. I tend to be overweight but work at changing that. It has become more difficult now that I am in my late 50s. I have four daughters and two of them had severe ear infections as infants, having 10-12 infections in their first year and one required ear tubes before getting relief. They both tend to be overweight also.
Yes I have had ear infections from the age 8 to 18 and my right inner ear is scared and its itches all the time doctors say they can not do anything now.I have been overweight since I was 10. Now what is different abouth me and everyone else that I know is I am not an eater I do not overeat I do not eat out I do not eat over 1800 calories and most of the time I eat way below that number I have been on every diet,, pills,,you name it the 40 pounds will not come off. Exercise is one I am not interested in or care for I have tried that a little but not sold on it. For your info I have had three children and I am 37 years young 5′ 3” 178pounds and I am an apple shape. Please help.
My son had ear infections during the first month of his life. He also suffered from them several more times during his childhood. Since removing him from medication for his ADHD (most of them are appetite suppresants), his weight has ballooned. I don’t know if this has anything to do with his ear infections, the medications or the fact that weight issues are prevalent on my paternal side of the family (myself included)
Interesting about the ear infections. I had a few as a child and as an adult if I start to feel sick it always hits my ears and glands first. I can easily take care of that myself though so I haven’t taken antibiotics or seen a doctor for that in years. I’m wondering if the ear infection is the culprit, or the use of antibiotics leading to the destruction of friendly intestinal flora which then leads to an overgrowth of yeast and other unfriendly bacteria in the intestinal tract.
I can’t agree with a blanket statement that healthy eating plays a huge role in obesity. I used to follow that thinking until I went through program after program of healthy eating (yes, even your guidelines) and saw no significant change in my size or weight. Now I eat what I want and even though its not always in the healthy category I have maintained my present weight for several years. Additionally, I know people who live on fast food and otherwise break every healthy eating rule on the books and yet still are ultra thin.
I guess I’m an exception. I’ve been overweight/obese since the age of 4 (I’m now 59) and have never had an ear infection in my life.
I hope you realize that people like me are less likely to respond to this survey than those who fit the profile, simply because we’ll tend to pass over anything that doesn’t resonate. Maybe there’s a statistical correlation, but a survey like this is far from conclusive. It isn’t a random sampling of the general population.
Gail says:
4 May’2009 at 11.13 am
I have had a history of ear infections in the past, the ;last one being 2 years ago, and since this has happened i cannot seem to keep the weight under control. i do not over eat, but seem to have this craving for sweet after a meal,or I am not satisfied until I have it.
I completely agree with you and that is why I wanted to survey my members to see if there is any correlation. It still doesn’t make it an absolute as there is always more research that is needed to be done, but it may help me with asking the right questions in regards to helping individuals figure out why they are overweight and what we have to do to fix it.
Jayson Hunter RD, CSCS
I had so many ear infections as a child that I have major hearing damage from scar tissue. I had tubes in my ears twice as an adult. I used to get bleeding ear infections as a child. I have always had food issues and was heavy as a child but not obese. I did not become obese until I was an adult.
My first memory of an ear infection was when I was 10 but my mom said that was not the first time for an ear infection. I have had many ear infections over the years. I remember a doctor saying to me when I was 37, “You’re a little old to be having ear infections.” I am in my 50’s now, considered obese and still have to watch out for water in my ears.
Other than having to keep an eye on my weight since high school, I never had real weight issues until I hit my mid-40’s. In the past 10 years, it’s been almost supernatural how easily the weight accumulated!
Hi Jayson!
I have had many ear infections over the years, both as a youth, and as a grown up, and several times with a ruptured ear drum. I now have tinnitus.
I have some problems translating the American measures for height and weight to familiar European standards, but I think I am obese. At least overweight.
I have tried many diet varieties, but none that have worked in the long run.
I am interestëd in these new theories.
Asked my mom and I never had ear infections as a baby. She said unless I was
the only baby to never cry or get a fever didn’t happen. Don’t remember many
illnesses as a child either. Bad case of the flu and chicken pox is all that come to
to mind. Other than school, I had limited exposure to other kids for quite some
time so that may have helped minimize any ear aches. Looking back at photos I
was a normal sized kid though I thought I was huge. I clearly didn’t start gaining
weight until puberty hit. During puberty I had many scripts for painful cramps
and that has plagued me until now. I also tend to get any upper respitory stuff
in my throat and sinuses and do have allergies. My mom that was a chunky kid
had ear and throat infections as a child and on vacation recently the doctor
diagnosed her with an ear infection. We laughed about it but she always has
something chronically going on with the ears and throat and it was always attibuted to
allergies.
I did have ear infections when I was a child – around 7 and 8 years old. I was a very skinny kid, then began to struggle with my eating and weight in my late teens. I’ve never been obese, though I did get up to overweight for a short while in my early twenties, and I do pay attention to my eating in order to maintain a healthy weight. When I gained my weight, it was mostly on fatty things, rather than sugary carbs. Fats are definitely my downfall!
J I’m a 45 year old adult VERY FIT and Lean for my age. I’m 5′8″ and 140 lbs. I maint I was a healthty diet. I was a chubby teenager due to plenty of junk food. I started with ear infections @ the tender age of 5 or 6 due to the amount of swimming I did. I also have very small ear canals with add to the problematic ear infections. I still to this day have ear problems and less frequent ear aches. this theaory of obesity and ear infections is outrageous…. Your diet dones not make ear infectiosns.
I am Gloria, 65 years old, overweight all my life, never had an ear infectio
- I have 5 children, 4 are obese and only one had severe ear infections.
I am 60 years and never had problems with ear infections. Was overweight at boarding school ( in my teens) but since then my weight has usually stayed around 130 lbs(at 5 ft 6in)
I have had chronic sinus and ear infections for many, many years and am overweight.
I am now 34 years old. When I was very young, I suffered numerous ear infections, even having tubes put in my ears. I have not suffered an ear infection since the tubes. I have never been overweight, always in the lower to middle end of average for my height. Even without exercising or eating as healthy as I do now, my weight has never been an issue. The only time it was on the higher end of normal was when I hurt my knee and was sedentary for a long time.
My father & I suffered severe ear infections including abscesses & sinusitus as children. We are both on the overweight/obese BMI & have had weight problems all our lives. I also have many tooth fillings, mainly gained during childhood, less so since I am older as I now don’t have a sweet tooth. I put it down to too much sugar as a child (our family owned a large softdrink business) & too many heavy cooked meals & desserts (my father always liked big cooked meals), even on 100 degree F + days. I am not an overeater, however my father who is 85 still is. We are both non-smokers and don’t drink much alcohol.
Hi!!!!!!!!!! My son had a very serious ear infection that led him to lose 80% of his hearing. Thank god, after aan operation he recovered but then I realised he was putting a lot of weight even though I control his diet. It seems like there is a link between his weight and the ear infection. I don’t have a research to proof this but it is just through my observation….
I was thin as a rail (97Lbs) till my 22 birthday when I finally reach (115 lbs)
up till my late 40, when I start gaining weight, I watch what I eat and do exercise, i have loose inches but still weight the same, I don’t remember having ear ache, but I have allergies and sinuses infection, that sometime make my ears fill stuff, but no ache.
Hi Jayson. I had ear infections as a child in both ears, sometimes twice a year, between the ages of 2 and 11. I think I had them before 2 as well, but it took the docs that long to figure out why I cried all the time. Around the age of 11, I was tested for allergies, and have been taking shots ever since. I still will sometimes get an ear infection, but not often.
I was not overweight as a kid – sometimes a little chubby, but would easily lose weight by just cutting back on extra helpings and getting some exercise. I’m now 42 and have been trying to lose weight for several years after having my son with limited to no success – until trying the carb rotation diet and getting on thyroid medication. I’m convinced the ear infections can be related to yeast overgrowth in the body, which can also contribute to weight problems and other health issues. So I think this is an interesting study that needs to expand a little more.
Hi
This topic is very interesting.When my mum was pregnant with me she caught a nasty virus(don’t know if she would have been given antibiotics-as 1963 probably wouldn’t be surprised).I was born with semi cleft palate & ear problems that required grommets plus had my tonsils/adenoids removed(more antibiotics).I have had several ear infections throughout my years.Plus in recent years i have discovered i am a non-secretor.Which consequently means i don’t have any blood type enzymes in my bodily fluids.Ie saliva etc.Which would enable my body to kill bacteria more efficiently.A non secretor person would draw the infection in & kill the bacteria within.Which is ok in a person with a strong immune system.However antibiotics kill all bacteria good & bad & so impair the immune system!Add then the problem of root canal treatments & mercury fillings plus even more antibiotics.Plus bacteria like to feed on carbs(not just sugar),Plus if you kill bacteria too quickly this can be problematical as live bacteria eat dead bacteria too! Hopefully you can see why i have had a history of weight problems & not just a lack of self control or willpower!
Hope this helps.
Love
Debs
Hi! I have gained about 130 lbs in the last 5 years. I just blamed it on my marriage going bad and ending in an ugly divorce. I had chronic ear infections as a child, but have not had many as an adult. I now suffer from tinnitus, and have to assume it is from all the ear infections I had as a child. My only doubt about this theory is that obesity runs in my family. My dad and all of his 7 brothers and sisters and his mom all have struggled or did stuggle with obesity their whole lives, so I consider it to be hereditary. I am one of 6 children and only myself and my oldest brother are obese. I just hope it does not fall onto my children.
I had chronic ear problems as a child and struggle with my body fat constantly. I’ve always claimed that I don’t eat for hunger but for taste.
I’ve been dealing with tinnitus for the last 15 or more years. Not sure if you would consider this a infection or not.