Ear infections & obesity

Parents know all too well the pain that goes along with a child's ear infection. But new research suggests those infections can actually lead to obesity.

Researchers say ear infections can damage nerves responsible for taste - causing a craving for fatty foods. That of course, increases the risk of obesity. Scientists call this connection unexpected. The same research determined having tonsils removed -- a common treatment for ear infections -- also increased the risk of obesity, specifically, a 30 percent increase in teen girls.

Source: American Psychological Association