It is commonly believed that excess weight is harmful at any age; however, recent studies have revealed a more alarming trend. An international team of experts has established that it is during young years that gaining extra pounds has the maximum impact on health. Find out why it is so important to control your weight starting at the age of 17.
Although many believe that excess weight is dangerous at any age, scientists have come to more serious conclusions. An international team of experts discovered that it is during youth that gaining extra pounds has the most severe impact on health. It becomes clear why it is so important to monitor one's weight starting at the age of 17.
Early Obesity Increases the Risk of Death by 70%
Specialists from Lund University in Sweden studied information about more than 600,000 people. The weight of each participant was measured at least three times between the ages of 17 and 60. The results were quite alarming: individuals who first developed obesity at the ages of 17–29 had approximately a 70% higher risk of dying from any cause in the following years. This is significantly higher compared to those who reached the age of 60 without weight issues.
"The most consistent conclusion is that weight gain at a young age is associated with a higher risk of premature death at a later age," notes epidemiologist Tanya Stokes from Lund University.
Researchers emphasize that it is not only the mere presence of excess pounds that matters, but also the duration of the body under such stress. The longer the body experiences biological stress due to obesity, the more the blood vessels, joints, and internal organs wear out.
What Obesity in Young Age Leads To
Swedish scientists found that premature mortality among individuals with early obesity is most often due to cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. This list also includes type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Notably, bladder cancer in men and stomach cancer in women did not show a statistical link to obesity.
The authors of the study explain this by stating that adipose tissue is not just a passive storage of calories, but an active endocrine organ. It produces special substances—adipokines—that provoke chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and increased blood clotting. These processes, which continue for years and sometimes decades, gradually destroy the heart, blood vessels, and pancreas.
Important Differences Between Men and Women
The study revealed an interesting feature: for women, the increased risk of premature death from cancer associated with obesity remained approximately the same. This did not depend on when the extra pounds were gained—at 20 or at 50 years old. Scientists suggest that hormonal changes related to menopause may play a key role here.
"If our results reflect what happens to women during menopause, the question arises: what comes first—hormonal shifts or weight gain? Perhaps hormonal changes affect weight, while the weight itself merely reflects deeper processes in the body," reflects epidemiologist Huyen Le from Lund University.
In men, on the contrary, the link between early obesity and high mortality was much more straightforward.
How to Understand That Weight is Already Dangerous
The main indicator is the body mass index (BMI). If this index reaches 30 or exceeds it, it is already considered obesity. The calculation is quite simple: one must divide their weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. For example, at a height of 1.7 m and a weight of 90 kg, first multiply 1.7 by 1.7 to get 2.89, then divide 90 by 2.89, which gives 31.1—this is the obesity indicator.
However, modern doctors consider not only dry numbers. They also pay close attention to the rate of weight gain. If a young man or woman aged 17–29 suddenly gains a lot of weight and crosses the obesity threshold, this is a serious warning signal. Such individuals need to be monitored more closely, even if they seem to be in good health externally.
How High is the Risk Due to Obesity
To better understand the situation, scientists presented illustrative statistics. If ten out of a thousand people without early obesity died during the observation period, then among a thousand individuals who developed obesity at ages 17–29, about seventeen died. This means an additional seven deaths per thousand people.
"One should not get hung up on exact numbers," warns Tanya Stokes. "They are rarely absolutely precise because they depend on many accounted and unaccounted factors. But it is important to grasp the very pattern. This study sends a clear signal to policymakers and everyone who makes decisions about their health."
Young people aged 17 to 30 with an initial BMI above 27–28 who continue to gain 2–3 kg of weight annually fall into a category of special risk. This also applies to those with a family history of heart attacks, diabetes, or hypertension. Women with early abdominal obesity are highlighted separately.
Researchers particularly note that their work did not take into account physical activity and dietary details. However, this does not negate the main conclusion: obesity prevention must begin as early as possible, without delaying it until middle age.
Why Weight Increases Unnoticed
Many sincerely believe that with moderate eating, weight gain is excluded. However, in practice, doctors often encounter the opposite situation. According to endocrinologist and dietitian Lydia Bindyukova from "INVITRO," the cause often lies not in the volume of food, but in non-obvious eating habits. It is these habits that can add hundreds of "invisible" calories daily, gradually leading to excess weight.
"The problem is almost never in breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is in the details: in a spoonful of sauce, in an unfinished child's sandwich, in a cup of sweet coffee. If there is no eating ritual: plates, tables, conscious meals—the brain may not perceive it as food. But the stomach still counts everything," explains Lydia Bindyukova.
Where the "Extra" Calories Come From
According to the doctor's observations, there are several sources of calories that people most often ignore. These include sauces: even a small portion of mayonnaise can significantly increase the calorie content of a dish.
Also, there are "liquid calories": juices, smoothies, sweet coffee, drinkable yogurts, and lemonades are often perceived as ordinary drinks rather than full meals. Their calorie content can be comparable to that of a substantial snack.
Alcohol is also a significant source of calories. It is not only calorie-dense in itself but also noticeably increases appetite and weakens control over the amount of food consumed.
A common habit is finishing food left by children: clinical data shows that up to 90% of parents of children under seven follow this habit. The leftover piece seems insignificant, but such "trifles" can add up to 500 extra calories daily.
Another source is constant "tasting" during cooking. A spoonful of puree, a small piece of cutlet, a bit of dough or cheese—all this can total up to 300 calories a day.
"The body registers every taste, even if the brain did not notice it. Therefore, it is important to either completely give up such snacks or honestly count them as a full meal," emphasizes the specialist.
When to Stop Gaining Weight
Completely forbidding oneself to gain weight makes no sense and can even be harmful, as the body naturally changes with age. The optimal strategy is to regularly monitor weight dynamics and measure waist circumference every six months. A waist measurement of more than 94 cm for men and more than 80 cm for women is considered dangerous.
