Health

Study: obese females more likely to develop MS

By WEEK Producer
By NBC News

Study: obese females more likely to develop MS

January 31, 2013 Updated Jan 31, 2013 at 12:55 PM CDT

OAKLAND, Calif. -- A new study suggests childhood obesity may be linked to a higher risk of multiple sclerosis.

MS is usually diagnosed in adulthood, but Kaiser Permanente researchers say the neurological disease is more common in obese children, especially girls.

In fact, their data showed girls who were considered extremely obese were three to four times more likely to develop MS as a teenager.

Researchers say this doesn't prove extra weight causes multiple sclerosis, but believe that rising obesity rates could mean more MS diagnoses in the future.

This study was led by researchers at Kaiser Permanente of Southern California and published in 'Neurology'.

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