Despiteconcerns about its effectiveness, the childhoodtonsillectomyis common. Each year more thanhalf a million children in the United States have their tonsils removed. But scientists have noticed what appears to be an unexpected side effect: Children who have the surgery are at greater risk of becoming overweight.
At first glance it makes little sense. Tonsils are typically removed after they become enlarged from repeated infections. Why would that have any effect on weight? One theory is that enlarged tonsils cause difficulty swallowing, prompting a child to eat less. Once the tonsils are removed, appetite returns.
No one knows how to explain it, but studies show a link between the surgery and weight gain. In the most recent and exhaustive report, published this year in the journal Otolaryngology— Head and Neck Surgery, researchers analyzed data from 11 studies, following 1,549 children for up to seven years.
Obviously, the children put on weight as they aged, but the analysis showed thatthe gains were much greater than expected after the surgeryand greater than the weight gain in children who had not had their tonsils removed.
Butso far only an association has been confirmed, not a direct causal effect. For now, experts say parents should simply keep an eye on a child’s weight after the surgery.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Studies show tonsillectomies are associated with weight gain, but it’s not clear there’s a causal relationship.
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