Being overweight at a certain stage of life is linked to a higher risk of premature death, a study finds

Weight management is often treated as a “middle age” problem, but new research suggests that the pounds you pack on in your 20s may be more harmful to your health.

A large study of over 620,000 people found that the damage from weight gain is disproportionately high and surprisingly permanent. According to these findings, when a young person begins to gain weight, the chances of premature death increase.

The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, analyzed data from the Swedish Obesity and Disease Development project.

MEN FACE HIDDEN HEART YEARS BEFORE WOMEN, STUDY SUGGESTS

“The most consistent finding is that weight gain at a young age is associated with a greater risk of premature death later in life, compared to people who gain less weight,” Tanja Stocks, professor at Lund University and one of the researchers behind the study, said in a press release.

Developing obesity between the ages of 17 and 29 was linked to a 70% higher risk of early death compared to gaining weight later in life.

Weight gain later in adulthood, between the ages of 30 and 60, was also linked to higher death rates, but the link was generally weaker.

HERE ARE THE YEARS WHEN STRENGTH AND VALUE START, LONGITUDINAL DATA SHOWS

“One possible explanation for why people who start to become obese is at greater risk is their long exposure to the biological effects of excess weight,” Huyen Le, a doctoral student at Lund University and first author of the study, said in a release.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLES

When weight gain occurs in the 20s, the blood vessels, liver and metabolic processes endure the strain associated with obesity longer than someone who gains the same weight in the 50s, experts say.

Weight gain later in adulthood, between the ages of 30 and 60, was also linked to higher death rates, but the link was generally weaker. (Stock)

The study identified type 2 diabetes as the leading cause of death associated with early obesity. Other notable risks include high blood pressure, liver cancer in men and ovarian cancer in women.

To reach these conclusions, the researchers tracked the weight trends of the participants during more than 50 years, focusing on three special windows: 17 to 29 years, 30 to 44, and 45 to 60 years.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH PAPER

Using a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more to define obesity, the team compared weight data against a Swedish national registry.

After adjusting for various factors, including smoking habits and marital status, the study showed that obesity later in life still has risks, but the risk increases the longer people stay overweight.

Although type 2 diabetes is the leading risk factor, rapid obesity is associated with higher rates of high blood pressure and certain cancers. (Stock)

While these findings highlight “the importance of early obesity prevention strategies,” the researchers noted that other factors are emerging, and that increased risk among individuals may be difficult to explain.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

“We don’t have to focus too much on risk statistics,” Stocks said.

“They are rarely completely accurate, as they are influenced, for example, by the factors considered in the study and the accuracy measured by both risk factors and outcomes.”

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Because the study was conducted in Sweden, more research is needed to understand the effect of early obesity in other populations, the team noted.