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Is the consumption of fast foods associated with asthma or other allergic diseases?
The relationship between fast food intake and respiratory or allergic conditions has been previously overlooked. This research aimed to determine whether the consumption of fast food is associated with asthma and allergic diseases. Systematic searches of databases were conducted through February 2018, resulting in the inclusion of studies examining these associations. Sixteen studies, comprising thirteen cross-sectional and three case-control studies, were evaluated using standardized critical appraisal tools, yielding average quality scores of 5.33 ± 1.16 for case-control studies and 5.69 ± 1.55 for cross-sectional studies.
The analysis revealed a significant association between fast food consumption and various asthma-related conditions. Specifically, the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) indicated that fast food consumption correlated with current asthma, severe asthma, and a history of asthma. Additionally, it was associated with current wheeze and with wheeze at any time.
Notably, physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis had an odds ratio of 1.43 (95% CI: 1.05-1.95), while severe eczema and severe rhino-conjunctivitis were associated with aORs of 1.51 (95% CI: 1.16-1.96) and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.18-2.00), respectively. Fast food consumption, particularly hamburgers, showed an even stronger association, with aORs of 1.59 for current asthma and 1.47 for ever asthma. Moreover, consuming fast foods, especially hamburgers, three or more times per week was significantly associated with severe asthma and current wheeze compared with those consuming them one to two times per week (both P < 0.001).
These findings suggest a dose-response relationship between fast food intake and asthma prevalence, underscoring the need for further longitudinal and interventional studies to validate these associations. [NPID: Asthma, allergy, fast food, allergic diseases]
Year: 2026
