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.
“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.