RESEARCH - New study explores restless legs syndrome, obesity link

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New Study Explores Restless Legs Syndrome, Obesity Link

By Salynn Boyles

WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MD

April 6, 2009 -- A new study suggests a link between belly fat and the

movement disorder restless legs syndrome, but more research is needed

to confirm the association, experts say.

Study participants with the biggest bellies were slightly more than

one and a half times more likely to have restless legs syndrome than

those with the smallest.

A similar association was seen in participants who were obese,

regardless of their belly size, compared to those who were not obese.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder that affects

as many as one in 10 American adults.

The causes are poorly understood. About 50% of people treated for RLS

have a family history of the disorder, according to the National

Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), but there is

also strong evidence that environmental influences contribute to RLS.

Belly Fat, RLS

In several previous studies, obesity was shown to increase the risk

for developing the neurological disorder, but none of the studies was

designed for the purpose of examining this link, says Xiang Gao, MD,

PhD, of Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20090406/belly-fat-may-raise-restless-legs-risk

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