How a temporary weight problem can leave behind a permanent lethal legacy
BEING overweight at any point in adulthood increases the chance of an early death, a major study suggests. And the risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or other health problems rises among people who become overweight or obese – even temporarily – at any point in their life, say experts.
Scientists at Harvard School of Public Health and Boston University examined data from 225,000 people, between the ages of 25 and 91.
The researchers said that analysing weight history over a period of time, rather than at a single point, showed that becoming overweight at any stage of life could have a detrimental impact on health later.
The study also undermines the theory that for elderly people being overweight can be protective.
The researchers, whose work was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, found that the more weight someone put on, the greater the risk of death.
They assessed people in broad age groups, looking at their heaviest weight over a 16-year period and then examining their subsequent health.
More than 32,500 participants died during the study.
People who had a peak body mass index (BMI) of between 25 and 30 – those who are classed as ‘overweight’ – had a 6 per cent increased risk of death from any cause within the next 12 years, they found.
Those classed as ‘obese’ – with a BMI between 30 and 35 – had a 24 per cent increased death risk.
And those who were classed as ‘severely obese’ – with a BMI of more than 35 – had a 73 per cent raised chance of death over the same time frame.
The researchers wrote: ‘The strongest association was observed for cardiovascular disease mortality.’
Even among the group who were merely overweight, the increased risk of cardiovascular disease death was 21 per cent, rising to 174 per cent for people who were severely obese.
The risk of cancer death was smaller but still substantial – increasing by between 1 per cent and 28 per cent, depending on weight.
Senior study author Andrew Stokes, assistant professor of global health at Boston University, said: ‘Having a history of being overweight or obese is linked to an increased risk for death from any cause.’
Co-author Edward Yu, of Harvard, said that the increased risk of death was vital, given that so many people in the world are overweight. He added: ‘This is more reason why people should follow a healthy lifestyle and try to keep a normal weight.’
The UK Government recommends that adults do at least 150 minutes of exercise a week – as well as strength exercises – to prevent obesity, heart disease and dementia.