Childhood Obesity Linked to Increased Risk of Multiple Sclerosis, Swedish Study Finds

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, has unveiled a concerning link between childhood obesity and the heightened risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life. The findings, slated to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in May in Venice, Italy, indicate that obese children may face more than double the risk of developing MS compared to their non-obese counterparts.

Briefly on MS

MS is a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. Its symptoms vary widely and can include vision problems and difficulties with movement, sensation and balance. While the exact cause of MS remains unclear, researchers have long sought to understand the various factors contributing to its development.

How the study was conducted

The study’s foundation lies in the analysis of data from the Swedish Childhood Obesity Treatment Register, which contains extensive information on children undergoing treatment for obesity. Researchers examined records spanning from 1995 to 2020, comparing data from over 21,600 children with obesity to that of more than 100,000 children without obesity.

The study’s results

The results were striking. While the overall likelihood of any one child developing MS remains low, the study revealed that children who were obese faced more than double the odds of developing MS later in life compared to their non-obese peers. Specifically, the rate of newly diagnosed MS cases among obese individuals reached 0.13%, compared to 0.06% among non-obese children.

Professor Claude Marcus, who led the study, commented:

There are several studies showing that MS has increased over several decades and obesity is believed to be one major driver for this increase… Thanks to our prospective study design, we can confirm this theory.

The study also highlighted a gender discrepancy in MS incidence, with two-thirds of cases occurring in females, aligning with the general observation of a higher prevalence of MS among women compared to men. Interestingly, regardless of weight history, MS was diagnosed at a similar average age of around 23 years old.

The potential cause

Emilia Hagman, an associate professor, and Dr. Marcus pointed to chronic inflammation associated with obesity as a potential mechanism driving this heightened risk. Obesity triggers a state of low-grade inflammation in the body, which, over time, can contribute to the development of various diseases, including MS.

The research team wrote,

Paediatric obesity is associated with several autoimmune diseases and the leading hypothesis is that the persistent low-grade inflammatory state, typically observed in obesity, is mediating the association.

The bottom line

Despite the alarming findings, Marcus and his team emphasized that the absolute risk of any one child with obesity developing MS remains relatively low. Still, while acknowledging the study’s limitations, including its observational nature and relatively short follow-up period, the researchers underscored the importance of recognizing the long-term health implications of childhood obesity.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Obese children twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis, study suggests,” The Guardian, 3/28/24
Source: “Childhood obesity linked to higher risk for multiple sclerosis later,” Yahoo News, 3/29/24
Image by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Study Confirms Genetic Link in BMI As Global Obesity Reaches Alarming Levels

A new study presented at the European Congress on Obesity suggests that middle-aged people are significantly more likely to become obese if one or both of their parents were overweight during that life stage. The research, led by Mari Mikkelsen from the Arctic University of Norway, analyzed data from over 2,000 parent-offspring pairs participating in the Tromso Study.

Study’s main points

Key findings of the study include:

• Offspring BMI was directly influenced by their parents’ BMI.
• A mother’s obesity increased the risk of middle-aged obesity by 3.4 times, while an obese father raised the risk by 3.7 times.
• If both parents were obese, the likelihood of middle-aged obesity was six times higher.

More than just genetics

Mikkelsen explained the reason behind the study and commented on its main finding:

Obesity in childhood, and especially in adolescence, tends to follow the individual into early adulthood, and so we suspected it would also follow them into middle age… We found that this is indeed the case — children whose parents lived with obesity are much more likely to be in living with obesity themselves when they are in their 40s and 50s, long after they have left home.

Most likely, a combination of genetics and environment causes a parent’s weight to affect the subsequent weight of their kids, Mikkelsen said:

Genes play an important role by affecting our susceptibility to weight gain and influence how we respond to obesogenic environments in which it can be easy to eat unhealthily… Some studies also speculate that children tend to develop similar dietary and exercise habits to their parents when they all live together under the same roof, resulting in a similar BMI status.

WHO releases update on obesity and overweight numbers

In other news, the World Health Organization (WHO) just updated its statistics and initiatives status for March 2024. Here are some troubling facts:

In 2022, global rates of obesity and overweight reached alarming levels:

• 1 in 8 people worldwide were living with obesity, with adult obesity doubling since 1990 and adolescent obesity quadrupling.
• 5 billion adults were overweight, with 890 million of them living with obesity. This represented 43% of adults globally, with significant regional variations.
• 37 million children under 5 and over 390 million aged 5-19 were overweight, with prevalence increasing particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
• The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has risen dramatically since 1990, affecting 20% of this age group globally by 2022.

As a reminder, the definition of overweight and obesity varies by age and gender, with specific criteria provided by the WHO for children under 5 and children aged 5-19. Another reminder is the numbers above, that more research, an organized approach, and more involvement from all levels (from home to medical professionals and government organizations) are needed. We must keep fighting the fight.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Obesity and overweight,” WHO, March 2024
Source: Odds of obesity derived from parents, study finds,” UPI.com, 3/8/24
Image by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

BPA Study Finds Different Gut Microbiota’s Response Based on BMI

Children with normal weight seem to have a different gut microbiota response to endocrine disruptors like bisphenol A (BPA) compared to those with overweight or obesity, one study finds. Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical used in various plastic products, is known to disrupt hormone functions in the body and may affect human health. The study, published in mSystems, found differences in microbial communities between normal-weight children and those who were overweight or obese after BPA exposure.

Margarita Aguilera, Ph.D., a microbiologist at the University of Granada in Spain, said:

We found that the gut microbial community responds differently to BPA exposure depending on the BMI (body-mass index) of the individual.

Specifically, children with normal weight hosted more diverse bacteria and showed greater resilience to BPA. Research from the University of Granada suggests that BPA exposure can lead to distinct microbial communities in normal-weight children compared to their overweight or obese counterparts.

BPA is increasingly present in human samples, indicating potential accumulation in the body. Moreover, there’s a growing body of evidence linking xenobiotics like BPA to obesity, especially when exposure occurs early in life.

The study aimed to evaluate how BPA affects gut microbiota in relation to childhood obesity and whether certain bacteria could serve as biomarkers for BPA exposure. Fecal samples from 106 children aged 5 to 10 were analyzed, revealing that BPA exposure led to specific microbial changes.

Certain bacterial species, such as Clostridium and Romboutsia, showed resistance to BPA and were positively associated with microbiota richness. On the other hand, other species were inversely correlated with gut diversity, potentially indicating an obesogenic phenotype.

Children with normal weight exhibited a more enriched and connected gut microbiome network compared to those with overweight or obesity, suggesting greater resilience to the effects of BPA. This finding underscores the importance of understanding the relationship between BPA, obesity, and gut microbiota for informing interventions and policies aimed at reducing childhood obesity risk.

Dr. Aguilera said:

We want to raise awareness about the health risks associated with microplastics that enter our bodies, and those that circulate in the environment… It’s crucial for individuals to be mindful of these concerns.

However, the study’s use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing limited taxonomy resolution, and further research is needed to fully elucidate the relationship between BPA-tolerant gut bacteria and obesity. Nonetheless, the findings highlight the need for awareness of the health risks associated with environmental toxins like BPA and microplastics.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Environmental Toxin BPA Affects Gut Microbial Communities in Children,” Pharmacy Times, 3/5/24
Source: “BPA exposure linked to gut microbiota, childhood obesity in new study,” EurikAlert, 3/1/24
“BPA exposure influences gut microbial diversity and childhood obesity risk,” News Medical, 3/1/24
Image by Jonathan Chng on Unsplash

Two Recent Childhood Obesity Studies in the Spotlight

We’ve been focusing recently on advertising to kids and the GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in the news, but what’s going on in the world of childhood obesity research? Most notably, two recent studies reveal the worsening of severe childhood obesity and cast doubt on one of the AAP-recommended guidelines. Let’s take a look.

A WIC study shows an obesity rate rebound to 2020

Last December, Fortune reported that a recent study published in Pediatrics indicates that severe obesity is becoming more common among young children in the United States. While previous research had shown a slight decrease in obesity rates among children enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, the latest update reveals a rebound in obesity rates by 2020.

The study examined children aged 2 to 4 enrolled in the WIC program, finding that the rate of severe obesity had initially decreased from 2.1% in 2010 to 1.8% in 2016, but then rose to 2% by 2020. This increase was observed across various states and racial/ethnic groups, with notable rises among Hispanic children. While the exact reasons for the increase are unclear, some speculate that changes in policy, such as the elimination of the expanded child tax credit, and economic hardships faced by low-income families may have contributed.

The study’s findings are significant despite some challenges faced by the researchers, such as declining enrollment in WIC over the past decade and incomplete data due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As was the case with similar studies, further research is needed to understand the ongoing trends in childhood obesity, especially in light of the potential impacts of the pandemic.

This AAP guideline doesn’t seem to work, study finds

Another study reveals there’s no proven benefit to the AAP-recommended motivational interviewing method. A recent study, also published in Pediatrics, found that Motivational Interviewing (MI), a weight loss intervention recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), did not effectively reduce childhood obesity. MI is a patient-centered communication style recommended by the AAP to address various health behaviors, including nutrition and physical activity.

The study randomly assigned 18 pediatric primary care practices to either use the MI intervention or provide usual care for childhood obesity. The intervention included counseling sessions by pediatric clinicians and registered dietitians, text message reminders, and a study portal for parents and healthcare providers. However, results showed that children in the intervention group actually gained more weight compared to those receiving usual care.

The researchers suggested that methodological and cultural factors, along with the COVID-19 pandemic, might have contributed to the lack of improvement. Laura Rolke, Ph.D., and Michelle J. White, M.D., MPH, both of the Duke University School of Medicine, commented that the study reflected the “urgent need for child obesity interventions that target the structural factors which contribute to child obesity including socioeconomic, built environment and food policies.”

They also said:

Although pandemics are (we hope) rare, the social, environmental, and economic factors that lead to child obesity are ubiquitous… Interventions focused on individual or family behavior change alone are unlikely to overcome them. Moreover, such interventions may place too much onus on the caregiver to initiate and maintain behavior change against a powerful current of adverse factors.

The study authors recommended reconfiguring the intervention model, possibly by involving healthcare professionals trained in behavioral change counseling and motivation more extensively. They wrote:

The required dose to achieve weight effects may be unattainable in our current health care delivery system… Further, the use of dietitians and pediatricians may need to be reconsidered. It may be beneficial to include other health care professionals who are primarily trained in behavioral change counseling and motivation, perhaps providing them with nutrition counseling skills or perhaps engaging dieticians only once or twice during the intervention.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Study findings cast doubt on childhood obesity intervention,” Healio.com, 1/29/24
Source: “Severe obesity increasing among young American children, new study confirms,” Fortune.com, 12/18/23
Image by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash