Obesity in girls tied to higher multiple sclerosis risk

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – New research suggests that obese kids – adolescent girls, in particular – are more likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) than normal-weight youth. That doesn't prove carrying around some extra weight in childhood causes MS – in which the protective coating around nerve fibers breaks down, slowing signals traveling between the brain and body. But it does suggest rising levels of obesity in young people could mean more MS diagnoses than in the past, according to lead study author Dr. …