Hamburgers are a tasty and satisfying staple for many people the world over. They can, however, be significant sources of fat and cholesterol, and experts caution against eating too many of them due to the fact that they can contribute to obesity and other chronic health conditions. Now, asthma has been added to that list.

As reported in a recent article on MSNBC.com, researchers in Germany, Spain, and Great Britain have found that children who consume three or more hamburgers each week increase their risk for asthma and breathing difficulties. Conversely, a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish reduced that risk.

The findings, published in the journal Thorax, are the result of a large study that looked at over 50,000 children between the ages of 8 and 12 years in over 20 countries (both rich and poor) across the globe. The relationship between hamburgers and asthma was most prominent in wealthy nations where higher levels of junk food are consumed. Interestingly, it was not the consumption of meat itself that seemed to increase the risk, but specifically hamburgers.

This suggests that the risk for asthma might not actually be linked directly to eating hamburgers, but rather to the lifestyle and environmental choices that go along with eating them, including a sedentary lifestyle and the ingestion of unhealthy junk foods, all of which contribute to obesity.

The authors of the study did indicate that an association to hamburgers could be made by virtue of the fact that eating them precludes the consumption of healthier foods that contain vitamins, antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids, all of which are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce the incidence of chronic conditions, including asthma. In fact, it has been suggested that foods rich in vitamin C may improve lung function, potentially reducing the effects of asthma. The data therefore may be interpreted as further support in favor of the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fish, whole grains, and healthy fats.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma is the most common chronic illness that affects children, with 5.6 million school-aged children between the ages of 5 and 17 years being affected (2007). Experts estimate that in a classroom of 30 students, at least three of them are likely to have asthma. Asthma is in fact one of the primary reasons that children miss school, with more than 12.8 million missed school days reported in certain years. Low income individuals, especially those living in urban environments, are prone to more emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to asthma than the general population.

While the exact causes of asthma are still not clear, it is believed to be related to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Obesity is a risk factor for asthma, so diet might be an important consideration.

If you have questions or concerns, speak with your doctor. For more information about asthma, visit the websites for the CDC and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.