The critical moment when gaining weight dramatically increases the risk of death. The age range in which the risk of premature death doubles
An international team of researchers analyzed data from more than 620,000 people included in the national study Obesity and Disease Development Sweden (ODDS), conducted between 1963 and 2015, eClinicalMedicine reports. Research has identified the critical moment when gaining weight dramatically increases the risk of death
Obesity between the ages of 17 and 29 increases the risk of death by 69% in men. PHOTO Shutterstock
The study participants, 258,269 men and 361,784 women, had at least three weight measurements between the ages of 17 and 60, which allowed detailed trajectories of weight evolution to be drawn.
Weight gain in youth, the strongest predictor of risk of death
During a median follow-up of 23.3 years in men and 11.7 years in women, there were more than 115,000 deaths.
The analysis shows that weight increased, on average, by 0.42 kg per year between the ages of 17 and 60.
A sharp weight gain throughout adult life and an early onset of obesity are associated with a significantly higher risk of mortality, the research also showed.
According to the study's findings, obesity between the ages of 17 and 29 increases the risk of death by 69% in men and 71% in women, compared to people who did not become obese by age 60.
Every 0.5 kg gained annually between the ages of 17 and 29 increases the risk of mortality by 18% in men and 16% in women.
Diseases influenced by early weight gain
The strongest associations were seen for cardiovascular disease (including most subtypes), cancer (several specific types), type 2 diabetes, digestive and genitourinary diseases.
Surprisingly, weight gain at older ages generally had weaker effects, with one notable exception: cancer mortality in women, where the impact was similar to that of early weight gain.
The researchers' conclusion
The results of the study emphasize the crucial importance of preventing obesity from a young age. Accelerated weight gain in the early years of adult life appears to have lasting health consequences, increasing the risk of death from multiple causes.
The research authors recommend that future studies include more detailed data on lifestyle, body fat distribution and muscle mass to better understand the biological mechanisms involved.
Funding for the study was provided by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society, the Crafoord Foundation, the Malmö General Hospital Cancer Foundation and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research.
