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.
CHECK OUT: Be Sure: 4 Tests For Multiple Myeloma
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.