Study finds having a higher BMI in early adulthood is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease

In a recent study published in The Lancet Public Health, researchers investigated the associations between early adulthood body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular diseases and the effect of midlife lifestyle factors on these outcomes.

The study's findings suggest that a higher BMI in early adulthood is linked to an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. This highlights the importance of preventing obesity and managing weight during early adulthood to support cardiovascular health later in life.

The researchers tracked participants aged 30–79 from five urban and five rural regions. Between 2004 and 2008, they collected data through interviews, physical measurements, and written consent. The study excluded individuals with a history of heart disease, stroke, cancer, or diabetes at the start, as well as those who were not within the 35–70 age range or lacked BMI data for age 25. Participants self-reported their weight from early adulthood, and BMI was calculated using this weight and their height at baseline. Lifestyle factors, including smoking, drinking, physical activity, and diet, were evaluated through questionnaires.

After excluding individuals who had heart disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, cancer, or diabetes, the final sample included 360,855 participants. The participants' average age was 50 years, with 42% male and 58% female. The participants had a mean BMI of slightly less than 22 kg/m² in early adulthood and nearly 24 kg/m² in middle adulthood.

Cardiovascular disease risk was positively associated with BMI during early adulthood, with participants having a BMI of over 30 kg/m² experiencing a 58% higher risk than those with a lower BMI. Obesity, defined as having a BMI over 28 kg/m² during early adulthood, was linked to a 39% higher probability of developing cardiovascular disease.

The study identifies the importance of weight management during early life in preventing cardiovascular disease, highlighting a need for initiatives targeting young adults. Future research should address early adulthood lifestyle factors and dynamic weight changes for a more comprehensive understanding.

References: Early adulthood BMI and cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study from the China Kadoorie Biobank. Chen, Y., Yu, W., Lv, J., Sun, D., Pei, P., Du, H., Yang, L., Chen, Y., Zhang, H., Chen, J., Chen, Z., Li, L., Yu, C., China Kadoorie Biobank Collaborative Group. The Lancet Public Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00043-4, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468266724000434