Gaining weight in early adulthood may be far more dangerous than previously thought, with new research revealing that becoming obese before the age of 45 significantly increases the risk of dying young.
The findings, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, show that the earlier in life individuals become obese, the greater the long-term consequences on their health.
The study, which followed 620,000 Swedish adults aged between 17 and 60, found that individuals who became obese between the ages of 30 and 45 increased their risk of early death by 52 per cent.
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Alarmingly, those who gained excessive weight even earlier, before the age of 30, faced a much higher risk.
Obese men in this category were 79 per cent more likely to die early, while women faced an 84 per cent increased risk, compared to those who gained weight later in life.
Researchers attribute these elevated risks to “cumulative damage” caused by prolonged exposure to obesity-related health issues.
Every pound gained between the ages of 17 and 29 was found to raise the risk of early death by over 20 per cent.
The dangers were linked to a wide range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, various cancers, and type 2 diabetes.
Huyen Le, a doctoral student at Lund University and the study’s lead researcher, emphasised the importance of early prevention.
“The key message from this study is clear: avoiding weight gain — especially in your late teens and twenties — can have a major impact on your long-term health,” she said.
Her colleague, Dr. Tanja Stocks, associate professor of epidemiology at Lund University, echoed the warning.
“Even modest weight gains in your twenties 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.”
The study adds to mounting evidence that young adulthood is a “critical life stage” for establishing habits that influence long-term health outcomes.
Experts argue that tackling obesity early could prevent a cascade of health complications and premature mortality later on.
Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, called the findings a “wake-up call” and criticised the current food environment.
“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 said.
“This is the consequence of decades of failure by the commercial food system and the lack of action by government to fix it.”
Currently, around one in four adults in the UK is classified as obese, according to NHS data.
Obesity is already known to increase the risk of at least 13 types of cancer, in addition to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
The researchers behind the study are calling for urgent action to support healthier lifestyles among young adults.
“Supporting healthy habits during this critical life stage can have lasting benefits,” said Dr. Stocks.
As the obesity crisis continues to grow, experts stress that preventing early weight gain may be one of the most effective strategies to ensure a longer, healthier life.
