Study: Obese Kids More Likely To Have Allergies

CHICAGO, Illinois (WUSA)-If a child or teen is obese, he is more likely to have allergies says a new study. However, it is not clear if obesity causes allergies.

"We found a positive association between obesity and allergies," says Dr. Darryl Zeldin, acting clinical director at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences or NIEHS, whose study appears in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The research shows, says Zeldin, obese young people are 26-percent more likely to have allergies.

Researchers analyzed data on 4,000 children and young adults aged 2 to 19.