Obesity May Be Linked To Increased Risk Of Multiple Myeloma

If you’re looking for more motivation to keep the excess weight off, look to these two words: multiple myeloma.

Researchers recently found a link between a person’s body mass index (BMI) and the risk of getting the rare blood cancer within the African American community.

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According to the study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, participants with high BMIs, indicating obesity, had as much as a 43-percent increased risk of dying from the disease.

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“While casual inferences cannot be made from observational studies like ours, evidence is becoming convincing that obesity is associated with multiple myeloma among major population groups,” said researcher Jennifer S. Sonderman. “The findings thus continue to suggest that additional research into potential biologic mechanisms, as well as into means of prevention, of BMI-associated multiple myeloma is warranted.”

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that attacks the white blood cells found inside of the bones. As these cells become affected, the body loses its ability to create antibodies to fight off infections.

African Americans are more than twice as likely as whites to be diagnosed with the disease. Also, weight issues disproportionately affect African Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 57 percent of Black women ages 20 and over are obese.

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Researchers studied the mortality of more than 239,000 African American adults while observing the link to multiple myeloma. Of the participants in the study, 36 percent were overweight, showing a BMI of 25 to 30, while 33 percent were obese with a BMI of 30 or greater.

“Our data suggest that the patterns and magnitudes of BMI-associated risk are similar among African Americans and that strategies aimed at obesity prevention and reduction may have benefit with respect to multiple myeloma mortality,” the researchers said.

If cancer, especially multiple myeloma, runs in your family, talk with your physician about your weight and whether it poses any concerns for getting the disease.