The childhood obesity-allergy link

A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that obesity may put kids at greater risk for developing allergies, particularly to foods. Researchers tested more than 4,000 kids between the ages of 2 and 19 for total IgE levels (antibodies linked to allergies). Overweight and obese youth had higher total IgE levels than those of normal weight and were 26 percent more likely to have allergies.