Researchers at Fudan University’s School of Public Health have found a link between childhood exposure to veterinary antibiotics and obesity. The research team collected urine samples from children in Jiangsu and Zhejiang in a three year study. They found that veterinary antibiotic exposure may be a risk factor for childhood obesity. The study was published in the latest issue of Environment International.

Children can be exposed to veterinary antibiotics through contaminated water and food. China consumes half the world’s antibiotics, or 16.2 million tons a year. 52 percent of these are veterinary antibiotics.

The research team tested urine samples for veterinary antibiotics and divided the samples into three groups based on the level of concentration of antibiotics. After adjusting for gender, education, age, parents’ income, diet, secondhand smoke exposure, and other genetic factors, researchers found that children with a higher concertation of antibiotics in their urine were two to three times more likely to be obese.

Source: ifeng.com

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Keywords: Fudan University veterinary antibiotics Fudan