IRVING, TEXAS -
Two years ago, 39 year old Charlene Pinkerton was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She says it all started more than nine years ago when she started having dizzy spells.
"My last episode, the symptoms were different, I started having trouble writing, some trouble with speech. They were very slight, but I could tell." Says Charlene.
Charlene wasn't overweight as a teen, but she says the new study is a warning sign for teen girls who are obese.
"It's an interesting correlation and of course with obesity to find another thing that it can be linked to is definitely a concern." Says Charlene.
The study found that women who had a body mass index of 30 or larger at age 18 doubled their risk of developing MS compared to women with lower BMI's.
Baylor-Irving neurologist Sunil Mathews says the study is interesting, especially considering childhood obesity is an ever growing problem.
"In women with childhood obesity that does increase the risk for them down the road, maybe ten or twenty years down the road." Says Dr. Mathews.
Researchers say there are two possible ways obesity affects MS. Vitamin D is believed to reduce the risk, but obese people tend to have lower levels of Vitamin D. Researchers also say fatty tissue may impact the immune system which may increase the risk of developing MS. Dr. Mathews says the study carries enough weight to discuss with his patients.
"Discussing that will be important, especially discussing with multiple sclerosis patients, if they do have teenage daughters, to basically check their vitamin D level and work on the weight." Says Dr. Mathews.
Charlene agrees, especially she says if it prevents young girls developing a disease she's fighting for nearly a decade.
"Anything they come out with is something to look into and see if there is a link, something that we could prevent." Says Charlene.
"My last episode, the symptoms were different, I started having trouble writing, some trouble with speech. They were very slight, but I could tell." Says Charlene.
Charlene wasn't overweight as a teen, but she says the new study is a warning sign for teen girls who are obese.
"It's an interesting correlation and of course with obesity to find another thing that it can be linked to is definitely a concern." Says Charlene.
The study found that women who had a body mass index of 30 or larger at age 18 doubled their risk of developing MS compared to women with lower BMI's.
Baylor-Irving neurologist Sunil Mathews says the study is interesting, especially considering childhood obesity is an ever growing problem.
"In women with childhood obesity that does increase the risk for them down the road, maybe ten or twenty years down the road." Says Dr. Mathews.
Researchers say there are two possible ways obesity affects MS. Vitamin D is believed to reduce the risk, but obese people tend to have lower levels of Vitamin D. Researchers also say fatty tissue may impact the immune system which may increase the risk of developing MS. Dr. Mathews says the study carries enough weight to discuss with his patients.
"Discussing that will be important, especially discussing with multiple sclerosis patients, if they do have teenage daughters, to basically check their vitamin D level and work on the weight." Says Dr. Mathews.
Charlene agrees, especially she says if it prevents young girls developing a disease she's fighting for nearly a decade.
"Anything they come out with is something to look into and see if there is a link, something that we could prevent." Says Charlene.
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