Weight problems in adults may be linked to having taken antibiotics as children, according to a study recently released by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Researchers examined the medical records of some 30,000 children. By age 15, about 20 percent of those children had received treatment with antibiotics seven times or more during their lifetime.

The fact that these children also weighed more than kids who had less exposure to antibiotics raised some concern.

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“The observation had been made decades ago that adding low doses of antibiotics to animal feed caused them (the animals) to gain weight,” Dr. Brian Schwartz, leader of the study, told LifeZette.

What this study also implies is a cumulative effect of antibiotics. The number of doses received in a lifetime has an increased impact on weight gain at older ages, which may carry into our adult years.

How, exactly, do antibiotics cause weight gain? It all starts in the intestinal tract.

“Antibiotics, in essence, sterilize the insides of your intestines,” Schwartz said. “We have over 10 times the amount of bacteria cells in our body than we do our own cells.”

“If you have a healthy gut, you’ll be in good shape. If you don’t, bad times are ahead,” said Dr. Sears.

When antibiotics kill the bad bacteria, they also kill the good bacteria that are necessary for proper digestion and sending the producers of weight gain into our system.

The impact of antibiotic overuse has been a growing concern in the medical community, since strains of bacteria have developed resistance to standard treatment. This study raises the concern that antibiotics may be affecting humans in other ways as well.

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Barry Sears, a leading authority in anti-inflammatory nutrition and president of the nonprofit Inflammation Research Foundation, shared his thoughts on antibiotics and weight gain.

“One of the primary causes of weight gain is what we call a leaky gut syndrome, in which things that shouldn’t get into the blood do. These are usually bacterial fragments, which cause inflammation, also known as endotoxemia, resulting in weight gain,” said Sears, who holds a doctorate in biochemistry.

Since antibiotics are sometimes the only solution to fighting an infection, Sears said there are two things people can do to “minimize the leaky gut issues created by taking antibiotics. One is (eating more) omega-3 fatty acids (such as those found in fish oils). Another is increasing the amounts of fermentable fiber. These two things will help your gut produce more short-chain fatty acids, which line your gut and prevent leakage.”

Fermentable fiber comes from such foods as kidney beans, asparagus, broccoli and apples. Sears said he refers to them as prebiotics.

Sheila Brinkman, a mother of five in northern California, said her children have been prescribed antibiotics for urinary tract infections and other types of bacterial infections over the years, making this study of particular interest to her.

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“I began becoming aware of concerns about the overuse of antibiotics after my third child was born,” Brinkman said. “Since then, we’ve been more cautious and have seen doctors become more cautious in their prescription of antibiotics. Some of our children have had frequent issues with tummy aches, which has caused us to rethink our approach to food. We minimize the use of processed food in our home and offer snacks of fruit, cheese and yogurt.”

Said Sears, “If you have a healthy gut, you’ll be in good shape. If you don’t, bad times are ahead.”

Experts agree we should only take antibiotics when truly necessary, as determined by a physician. Secondly, treat food as a therapeutic drug. Feed our bodies what they need to keep the host of bacteria living in us in balance. As a result, we will maintain a healthier weight and a healthier life.