Obesity is a rapidly growing health problem worldwide, the risk of which is increasing with time. The problem of obesity is being seen in people of all ages, from children to the elderly. The researchers found that people who are overweight or obese may have a higher risk of developing a variety of chronic diseases over time.
Doctors say, from diabetes to heart disease, your increased weight can cause major problems for your health, and necessary measures should be taken to control it.
Meanwhile, in recent research, scientists have warned that the condition of obesity can also increase your risk of fatal cancer. Researchers in New York have found that obesity can increase the risk of developing multiple myeloma (blood cancer of plasma cells) by more than 70 percent.
Obesity and risk of multiple myeloma
The team from America's Massachusetts General Hospital said that smoking habits have been considered a major factor in developing multiple myeloma, and now research has found that obese people may also be at risk.
Research published in the journal Blood Advances has shown that obese individuals have an increased risk of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). MGUS is a common blood condition that often precedes multiple myeloma.
What did the study find?
Between February 2019 and March 2022, 2,628 individuals from the US who had a family history of hematologic malignancies, which increase the risk of developing multiple myeloma, were included. Researchers found that obese people were 73 percent more likely to develop MGUS than normal-weight individuals.
However, according to the team, physically active people (exercises like running or jogging for 45-60 minutes a day) were found to have a lower risk of MGUS.
Important to know about risk factors
MGUS is an abnormal protein produced by plasma cells and is one of the most prominent factors in multiple myeloma. Most people with MGUS do not show any significant symptoms, so it continues to cause serious damage to the body.
Researchers say the results of the research show that to reduce the risk of cancer, it becomes necessary to control weight along with exercising and maintaining complete distance from habits like smoking.
What do researchers say?
The team found that in addition to obesity, people with heavy smoking and lack of sleep were also more likely to develop MGUS. "There have been significant advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma over time, but it remains an incurable disease, often diagnosed when patients have advanced disease," said Professor David Lee of Massachusetts General Hospital.
Everyone needs to be careful about its risk factors. Especially as has been found in this study, it becomes very important to control weight.
(PC: Freepik)
