Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
08:17
Scoring Central Nervous System Inflammation, Demyelination, and Axon Injury in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: February 23, 2024
Obesity and Risk of Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS): a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Sanaz Mehrabani1, Narges Ebrahimi2, Mohsen Rastkar3,4
1Associate Professor of Pediatrics Gastroenterology, Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Maedica
|July 8, 2026
Summary
Childhood obesity significantly increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in children. This meta-analysis confirms a substantially higher pooled odds ratio for MS among obese children, highlighting a critical public health concern.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing global health issue.
- Existing literature suggests a link between childhood obesity and increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), but findings are inconsistent.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis were needed to quantify this association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze existing studies.
- To quantify the pooled risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in children with obesity.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google Scholar) and gray literature up to May 1, 2023.
- Two independent researchers screened and selected studies.
- Four studies meeting eligibility criteria were included in the meta-analysis, involving 17,812 cases and 660,757 controls.
Main Results:
- The pooled odds ratio (OR) for developing MS in children with obesity was 1.67 (95% CI 1.25-2.24).
- Individual study ORs ranged from 1.26 to 3.79.
- Significant heterogeneity was observed (I2=84.2%, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- The findings indicate a significantly elevated risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in children who are obese.
- This highlights the importance of addressing childhood obesity to potentially mitigate MS risk.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
01:24Obesity
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
01:26Methods of Documentation II: POMR
The Problem-Oriented Medical Record (POMR) revolutionized medical record-keeping by introducing a systematic approach focusing on the patient's problems rather than merely listing symptoms. Dr. Lawrence Weed's introduction of this method in the 1960s marked a significant advancement in medical documentation. The POMR framework consists of four key components: the database, problem list, plan of care, and progress notes.
01:25Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
01:20Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
Drug metabolism, a critical process in the liver, involves two primary phases: Phase I reactions and Phase II conjugation. Obesity introduces significant alterations in this metabolic process, primarily due to fatty infiltration of the liver, leading to conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition can modify the activities of both Phase I and II enzymes, impacting how drugs are metabolized in obese patients.Phase I metabolism sees variable effects across...