Scientists Identify the Most Dangerous Time in Life to Gain Weight

A new study of more than 600,000 people found that developing obesity between ages 17 and 29 was linked to about a 70% higher risk of death from any cause.

The strongest association was with cardiovascular mortality, suggesting early-adulthood obesity may be especially harmful to heart health.

People who did not develop obesity until later in life had a lower mortality risk than those whose weight gain started in their teens or 20s.

The findings, from Lund University and published in eClinicalMedicine, suggest that when obesity begins may matter as much as how much weight is gained.