Gaining weight before the age of 30 could increase the risk of premature death by nearly double, according to a study. Researchers analysing data from 620,000 adults discovered that, on average, individuals gained around one pound per year between the ages of 17 and 60.
However, the health implications were significantly greater for those who became obese in their 20s compared to those who gained weight later in life.
Men who became obese prior to the age of 30 experienced a 79 per cent increase in the risk of early death, while women saw an 84 per cent rise compared to those who did not become obese. Huyen Le, the lead researcher from Lund University in Malmö, Sweden, stressed the significance of the findings, particularly as most weight gain tends to occur in early adulthood.
This period often comes when young adults in their 20s leaving home and becoming more reliant on convenience and junk food. Ms Le stated: “The key message from this study is clear: avoiding weight gain – especially in your late teens and 20s – can have a major impact on your long-term health. Gaining weight early in adulthood, or developing obesity at a young age, is linked to a higher risk of dying from many chronic diseases later in life.”
The study tracked male participants for an average of 23 years and female participants for 12 years. While gaining weight later in life did increase the risk, the impact was significantly less pronounced, reports the Express.
Becoming obese between the ages of 45 and 60 raised the overall risk by approximately one quarter. Reaching the threshold of weight gain between the ages of 30 and 45 increased the risk by 52 per cent. For those under 30, every pound gained per year raised the risk of early death by 24 per cent in men and 22 per cent in women.
Experts have highlighted that the years between 17 and 30 are a “critical life stage” for establishing healthy habits with long-term benefits. Senior researcher Professor Tanja Stocks commented: “Even modest weight gains in your 20s can significantly increase the risk of early death if they persist over several years. The earlier people embrace healthy living, the better the chance of a long life.”
These findings were shared at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, earlier this month (May 12).
Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, has called the study “yet another wake-up call” for the Government to implement stricter measures against obesity. She stated: “Gaining excess weight early in life doesn’t just increase the risk of obesity – it can shorten lives by driving up rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and poor mental health. Many young people are on course to reach obesity by 30, driven by a food environment dominated by fast food deals, oversized portions, and highly processed products.”
She continued: “This is the consequence of decades of failure by the commercial food system and the lack of action by Government to fix it. We need bold action to make healthy food the easy, affordable, and appealing choice.”
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