In a recent study published in The Lancet Public Health , researchers investigated the associations between early adulthood body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular diseases in a Chinese population and the effect of midlife lifestyle factors on these outcomes. Their findings indicate that higher BMI during early adulthood is associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, suggesting that early adulthood is a critical period for obesity prevention and weight management to promote cardiovascular health in later life. Study: Early adulthood BMI and cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study from the China Kadoorie Biobank .
Image Credit: ProfDesigner / Shutterstock Background Obesity among middle-aged adults is an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases leading to early mortality, but less is known about the impact of weight during early adulthood. Early adulthood, often a critical period for gaining weight, has seen a global increase in obesity and overweight rates. For instance, in China, the average BMI for people between 18 and 39 years old rose from less than 22 kg/m2 in 1993 to over 23 kg/m2 in 2015.
Previous research in Western countries suggests that obesity and overweight during early adulthood may lead to various health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, but there is limited evidence from Asian populations. Asian individuals often have higher abdominal obesity and body fat compared to White people who have comparable BMI.