A recent study indicates that obese children may face a significantly higher, nearly double risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to adults. Previous research has suggested a connection between MS risk in adolescence and high body mass index (BMI). However, these studies were retrospective and relied on self-reported data. The new study by researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, aimed to prospectively evaluate the risk of MS development in a large cohort of obese children compared to the general population. The scientists utilized data from the Swedish Childhood Obesity Treatment Register, also known as Boris, which is one of the largest registries for childhood obesity treatment worldwide.
The study analyzed data from over 21,600 children with obesity aged between 2 and 19 years
The study analyzed data from over 21,600 children with obesity aged between 2 and 19 years. Comparing this data with information from more than 100,000 children without obesity, researchers tracked them for an average of six years. During the follow-up period, 28 cases of MS were diagnosed in the group with obesity, compared to 58 without obesity. The average age of MS diagnosis was 23 for both groups, but the incidence was higher in obese children (0.13%) compared to those without obesity (0.06%). The authors acknowledged the study’s limitations but noted that “obesity in childhood increases the susceptibility to early-onset MS more than twofold.”
Associate Professor Emilia Hagman and Professor Claude Marcus, the study’s authors, highlighted that childhood obesity can lead to chronic inflammation, increasing the risk of MS and other diseases. They emphasized the potential for weight loss to reduce inflammation and disease risk, stating, “Chronic low-grade inflammation is also believed to increase the risk of other diseases such as asthma, arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. However, we know that weight loss reduces inflammation and, most likely, the risk of developing such diseases.” MS, or Multiple Sclerosis, is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It is a lifelong condition that can cause disability and significantly disrupt a person’s life, with symptoms including vision problems, difficulties with arm or leg movement, sensory issues, and balance problems.
