Is there a relationship between childhood obesity and food allergies?

There may be an association between childhood obesity and allergies.  A new study released by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, looked at data from 4,111 participants between the ages of 2 through 19.

The study found, when compared to normal weight children and teens:

• obese children and teens were 26% more likely to have any kind of allergy
• obese children and teens were 59%  more likely to have a food allergy

This study does not prove that childhood obesity causes allergies but it is certainly concerning to see the numbers.  Food allergies among children have increased 18% over the last decade, according to the CDC.