Increased pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) risk is linked to obesity, and obese patients did not respond well to first-line medications, reveals a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal JAMA Neurology.

A single-center study of 453 children in Germany with multiple sclerosis (MS) investigated the association of obesity with pediatric MS risk and with the response of first-line therapy in children with MS.

In this single-center study of 453 German children with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, obesity was connected with twofold greater odds of the disease and more frequent failure of first-line therapy with interferon beta-1a or 1b and glatiramer acetate, thereby increasing the number of patients on second-line treatment.

‘Obesity is significantly associated with a raised risk of pediatric multiple sclerosis and with worse treatment response to first-line treatment. Hence, a healthy weight may possibly optimize treatment outcomes and decrease the disease burden and costs. ’
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