Obesity during youth could double the risk of multiple sclerosis in later life, research suggests
Children grappling with obesity might face a significantly higher likelihood of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in adulthood, according to recent research findings.
Multiple sclerosis is a condition that impacts the brain and spinal cord, leading to a wide array of potential symptoms, including challenges with vision, coordination in the arms or legs, sensation, or balance. As a lifelong affliction, MS can sometimes lead to severe disability.
These insights are set to be shared at the European Congress on Obesity, taking place in Venice this May, and stem from research conducted by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
Prior studies have hinted at a connection between an elevated body mass index (BMI) during adolescence and a heightened risk of MS. However, the majority of these analyses relied on retrospective approaches and self-reported data, which could introduce biases.
The recent investigation aimed to prospectively assess the risk of MS development among a significant cohort of children with obesity in comparison to their counterparts in the broader population. To this end, the researchers turned to the Swedish Childhood Obesity Treatment Register, also known as Boris. This database stands as one of the globe’s most extensive records dedicated to the treatment of childhood obesity.
The team reviewed data pertaining to children between the ages of two and 19 who were enrolled in the registry from 1995 to 2020. This information was then juxtaposed with data from the general population of children.
In total, the study took into account data from over 21,600 children who commenced obesity treatment at an average age of 11, alongside more than 100,000 children without obesity.
Throughout an average tracking period of six years, MS was diagnosed in 28 children from the group with obesity (representing 0.13% of this cohort) and 58 children from the group without obesity (0.06%).
The average age at which MS was diagnosed remained similar across both groups, with diagnoses typically occurring around the age of 23.
While acknowledging certain limitations in their study, the researchers underscored: “Despite the limited follow-up time, our findings accentuate that childhood obesity amplifies the risk of developing early-onset MS by more than double.”
The study’s lead researchers, Associate Professor Emilia Hagman and Professor Claude Marcus, commented: “Obesity during childhood induces a low-grade, yet chronic inflammation, which likely elevates the risk of developing various conditions, including MS.”
They further elucidated that such chronic low-grade inflammation is believed to elevate the risk of other conditions, such as asthma, arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and certain cancers. Notably, they highlighted that weight loss can diminish inflammation, thereby potentially reducing the risk of developing these diseases.
