Antibiotics fatten up children as well chickens

A new study, published by the International Journal of Obesity concludes that frequent use of antibiotics can affect and influence weight gain in children throughout the growing years – and lead to a higher body mass index (BMI).

Most prior studies have focused more on early development, but this new study examined the medical records of 163,820 children from ages 3 to 18. An interesting finding was that of all those children, 1 in 5 were prescribed antibiotics more than 7 times by age 15. Those children weighed an average of 3 pounds more than their peers who did not receive antibiotics.

It makes sense, really. Antibiotics are often used to grow fatter livestock; why wouldn’t they grow fatter humans, as well?

It’s not yet entirely understood how antibiotics lead to weight gain in children, but what we do know is that antibiotics wipe out your intestinal flora. This may be leading to changes in the digestive process that alter the way food is broken down, and absorbed. This is why it’s frequently suggested that one eats probiotic and prebiotic food after having taken a round of antibiotics.

In a world of helicopter parents, it’s easy to see why antibiotics are being over-used. It would probably be better for kids be sick for a few days once in awhile than fat for a lifetime, though.

Sources:

well.blogs.nytimes.com

nature.com