Childhood obesity It is an increasingly widespread problem throughout the world and its implications on the health of children and adolescents are the subject of growing concern among experts. In addition to the well-known consequences of obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease, a new research is raising the alarm about a possible link between childhood obesity and multiple sclerosis (MS)an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system.
Connection between childhood obesity and multiple sclerosis, the study
A study conducted by Claude Marcus and Emilia Hagman of Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Swedenexamined the association between a high body mass index (BMI) in adolescence and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. The study, which will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity, involved a large cohort of pediatric obesity patients between 1995 and 2020.
The study results revealed that childhood obesity is associated with a more than double risk of developing multiple sclerosis in adulthood. Although most studies examining this association are cross-sectional and retrospective, this study took a prospective approach, allowing for more accurate assessment of risk over time.
Scientists have recruited patients aged between 2 and 19 years suffering from obesity, using the Swedish Childhood Obesity Treatment Registry (BORIS). A comparison group from the general population was selected based on criteria such as sex, year of birth and area of residence. Patients with secondary obesity and those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis before 15 years of age were excluded.
The results
During the follow-up period, 0.13% of participants with obesity developed multiple sclerosis, compared to 0.06% of the general comparison population. Although the absolute number of cases is relatively low, statistical analysis revealed a significantly increased risk in the obesity cohort. The risk of developing multiple sclerosis was found to be more than double that of the general population.
This study provides compelling evidence of the link between childhood obesity and multiple sclerosis, underscoring the importance of addressing obesity from a young age to reduce the risk of serious health conditions over time. Experts suggest that the inflammatory state associated with obesity could play a key role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Although the absolute risk of developing multiple sclerosis remains relatively low, childhood obesity represents a significant risk factor that should be considered in prevention and health management strategies for children and adolescents.