Children seem to gain extra weight after having their tonsils removed

THE QUESTION Tonsils often are removed to eliminate infections that cause sore throats and trouble swallowing and to help a child breathe better while sleeping. Might a tonsillectomy also affect the child's weight?

THIS STUDY analyzed data from nine studies, involving 795 children who had a tonsillectomy, with or without adenoid removal, before they turned 18. Their weights ranged from normal to extremely obese. In the first few years after their surgery, most of the children gained weight beyond what was expected as they grew taller. In more than half of the children, weight increased 46 to 100 percent. Most of the others gained as well, but in lesser amounts, although youths who were the most obese at the start neither gained nor lost weight after a tonsillectomy.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Children with inflamed tonsils, and parents who must decide whether to have the tonsils removed. Although tonsillectomies are not done as often as they were a few decades ago, about a half-million children still have the operation each year in the United States.

CAVEATS The study suggested a link between tonsillectomy and subsequent weight gain, but it was not designed to prove cause and effect. It also did not determine the exact mechanism that may cause weight gain after a tonsillectomy. Citing the increasing number of obese children, the authors urged parents to add potential weight gain to the list of factors they consider when deciding whether to have a child's tonsils removed.

FIND THIS STUDY February issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (oto.sagepub.com/content/144/2/154.abstract).

LEARN MORE ABOUT tonsils at www.entnet.org/healthinformation (click on "throat") and www.mayoclinic.com.

- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

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Quick Study: Short interval between miscarriage and new pregnancy may have merit

THE QUESTION Does the chance of having a successful pregnancy after a miscarriage depend on when you try again?

THIS STUDY analyzed data on 30,937 women, most in their mid-20s, who became pregnant after miscarrying during their first pregnancy. About 41 percent were pregnant again within six months of the miscarriage, 25 percent six to 12 months later, 10 percent after 12 to 18 months, 6 percent 18 to 24 months later and 18 percent after 24 months. Women who conceived again within six months had the best outcomes and fewest complications. They were 34 percent less likely to have another miscarriage, 52 percent less likely to have an ectopic pregnancy and slightly less likely to have a baby born prematurely, weighing less than normal or delivered by Caesarean section than were women who conceived again six to 12 months after a miscarriage. They were more apt, though, to have induced labor. Women who did not conceive again for more than two years had the highest risks, including nearly double the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Women who have a miscarriage, which is usually defined in the United States as the loss of a pregnancy from a natural cause before the 20th week. Often the cause is unknown and not preventable. In many cases, a miscarriage happens before a woman realizes she is pregnant.

CAVEATS The study, conducted in Scotland, included women who had miscarried before the 24th week of pregnancy, rather than the 20th. It did not include women who were carrying more than one baby. Women who took longer to become pregnant again may have had fertility problems that affected their pregnancy outcome. Only minimal data, if any, were available on other factors that might have affected the women's pregnancies, such as smoking and weight.

FIND THIS STUDY Aug. 5 online issue of BMJ.

LEARN MORE ABOUT miscarriage at http://www.nichd.nih.gov and http://www.mayoclinic.com.

-- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

View the original article here

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Fiber seems to be linked to a reduced risk of disease in people older than 50

THE QUESTION: Diets high in fiber have been shown to aid weight loss and help with digestive problems. Might fiber also offer other health benefits?

THIS STUDY analyzed medical and food consumption data on 388,122 adults older than 50. In a nine-year span, 31,456 of them died. People who routinely consumed the most fiber - an average of 24 grams daily for men, 26 for women - were 22 percent less likely to have died in this time than were those whose diets included the least amount of fiber. Among men, high fiber intake lowered the risk for dying from infectious diseases by 56 percent, from respiratory diseases by 31 percent and from cardiovascular disease by 24 percent; among women, risks fell by 59 percent, 46 percent and 34 percent, respectively. Higher consumption of fiber also lessened the chances of dying from cancer for men, but not for women. As intake of fiber from whole grains increased, the chance of dying from these diseases decreased. That did not apply to fiber from other sources, such as fruits.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? People who routinely include fiber in their diets. Current dietary guidelines recommend that women consume at least 25 grams of fiber daily and that men consume 38 grams. According to government estimates, most Americans take in, on average, just 15 grams a day. (A banana or apple contains about three grams of fiber, as does a cup of such cereals as Wheaties and Cheerios. A slice of whole-wheat or rye bread contains about 2 grams, a cup of green beans provides 4 grams and a cup of pinto beans contains roughly 15 grams.)

CAVEATS: Dietary data came from the participants' responses on questionnaires. Higher fiber intake might have reflected an overall healthier lifestyle, which could have affected the results. The authors theorized that the beneficial effects, especially against infectious and respiratory diseases, may stem from the anti-inflammatory properties of fiber.

FIND THIS STUDY: Feb. 14 online issue of Archives of Internal Medicine

LEARN MORE ABOUT dietary fiber at www.familydoctor.com and www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource .

- Linda Searing

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.

View the original article here

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