Body size and risk of MS in two cohorts of US women

Obese adolescents have an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), and this result suggests that prevention of adolescent obesity may contribute to reduced MS risk. Objective: To examine whether obesity during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood is associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Women in the Nurses’ Health Study (n = 121,700) and Nurses’ Health Study II (n = 116,671) provided information on weight at age 18 and weight and height at baseline, from which body mass index was derived. Women also selected silhouettes representing their body size at ages 5, 10, and 20. Over the total 40 years of follow-up in both cohorts combined, we confirmed 593 cases of MS. Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for age, latitude of residence, ethnicity, and cigarette smoking, were used to estimate the rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Obesity at age 18 (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) was associated with a greater than twofold increased risk of MS (multivariate relative riskpooled = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.50-3.37, p trend <0.001). After adjusting for body size at age 20, having a large body size at ages 5 or 10 was not associated with risk of MS, whereas a large body size at age 20 was associated with a 96% increased risk of MS (95% CI: 1.33-2.89, p trend = 0.009). No significant association was found between adult body mass and MS risk. Conclusions: Obese adolescents have an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Although the mechanisms of this association remain uncertain, this result suggests that prevention of adolescent obesity may contribute to reduced MS risk. 25(OH)D = 25-hydroxyvitamin D; BMI = body mass index; CI = confidence interval; MS = multiple sclerosis; NHS = Nurses’ Health Study; NHSII = Nurses’ Health Study II; RR = relative risk.

Body Fat Distribution - an overview

HIGH-RISK SERIES Efforts Made to Achieve Progress Need to Be

Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions - NCI

The female problem: how male bias in medical trials ruined women's

More than half of U.S. adults don't know heart disease is leading

Despite decades of promises, health research still overlooks women

Hypothesis Testing - Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)

Insights into the Mechanisms That May Clarify Obesity as a Risk Factor for Multiple Sclerosis

Obesity and Multiple Sclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Definitions, Classification, and Epidemiology of Obesity

How to Do Squats: Muscles Worked, Benefits, and Proper Form