Pediatric obesity and the risk of multiple sclerosis: a nationwide prospective cohort study
Main finding · Developing MSResult — go to the resultAdjusted hazard ratio 2.28 95% CI 1.45–3.58Authors' conclusion
Both childhood and adolescent obesity are associated with an increased risk of MS. Moreover, a dose-response relationship between the degree of obesity and the risk of future MS was indicated, while response to pediatric obesity treatment did not affect the association, highlighting the importance of preventing high degree of obesity early in life.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged 2–19 years from the Swedish Childhood Obesity Treatment Register (BORIS) and matched individuals from the general population; median age at follow-up 21 (Q1, Q3 18, 25) years
- Participants
- 21,652 vs 102,187
- Exposure
- Pediatric obesity vs general population comparators
- Pediatric obesityn = 21,652
- General population comparatorsn = 102,187reference
- Outcome
- MS, identified through the National Patient Register
Methodological detailsmatched general population comparators, HR adjusted for parental multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Matched general population comparators
- HR adjusted for parental MS
Main finding
Developing MS
Adjusted hazard ratio
2.28
95% CI 1.45–3.58
Pediatric obesityvs General population comparators
adjusted HR 2.28 (95% CI 1.45–3.58)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| MS by obesity class (stratified analyses)Obesity class Ivs General population comparatorsNot associated with MS · stratified analyses | 1.34 (0.64–2.81) | |
| MS by obesity class (stratified analyses)Obesity class IIvs General population comparatorsAssociation strengthened · stratified analyses | 3.42 (1.89–6.19) | |
| MS by age at obesity (stratified analyses)Childhood obesityvs General population comparatorsStratified analyses | 3.16 (1.12–8.87) | |
| MS by age at obesity (stratified analyses)Adolescent obesityvs General population comparatorsStratified analyses | 2.12 (1.28–3.51) | |
| 0.10.31310Hazard ratio (log scale) |
MS by decrease in body mass index (BMI) SDS (response to obesity treatment, subgroup)
- HR per 0.25 BMI SDS unit decrease; not associated with lower likelihood of MS
- 1.09 (0.92-1.29)
Original publication
Pediatric obesity and the risk of multiple sclerosis: a nationwide prospective cohort study. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 30 January 2025. doi:10.
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