Long-Term Obesity Dramatically Increases Heart Attack and Stroke Risk in Younger Adults, Study Reveals

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On Saturday, researchers presented findings indicating that individuals under 50 who have been obese for a decade or longer face a significantly heightened risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke. This study highlights the importance of considering cumulative years of obesity rather than relying solely on single-point measurements of body mass index (BMI).

The study, which involved an extensive analysis of health data, revealed that women under 50 and men under 65 who had been obese for ten years had a 23% to 60% increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Researchers emphasized that a consistently high BMI over time was more critical in determining cardiovascular risk than single-point BMI measurements at the beginning of the study.

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Alexander Turchin, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the study’s lead author, emphasized the implications of these findings in a media release. “These findings imply that obesity at any point doesn’t set one’s fate,” Turchin said. “With timely intervention, the complications related to obesity can be avoided.”

Previous research has consistently shown that individuals who are overweight or obese at any point in time have a higher risk of heart attacks or strokes. However, this study is groundbreaking in clarifying how the duration of obesity influences this risk. The findings were presented at the annual conference of The Endocrine Society, a professional association of endocrinologists, held in Boston.

The industry-sponsored study involved Turchin and his collaborators, including researchers from Eli Lilly. They analyzed health data from more than 138,000 individuals who had been followed since 1990. By examining BMI values from 1990 to 1999 and tracking heart attacks or strokes between 2000 and 2020, the researchers provided a comprehensive overview of the long-term impacts of obesity.

Prolonged Obesity Linked to Higher Heart Attack and Stroke Risk: Study Emphasizes Cumulative BMI Over Single Measurements

The study identified 12,048 cardiovascular events among the participants. It was found that men and women in the highest BMI quartile—representing the top 25% of BMI values—had a 23% to 60% higher risk of heart attack or stroke compared to those in the lowest BMI quartile, depending on their age and sex. Notably, an elevated BMI at the baseline (the first BMI reading of the participants) was not associated with an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. These findings underscore the importance of considering cumulative excess BMI over any single-point measurements.

“These results are based on robust data and have significant public health implications, particularly for younger people,” commented Ambrish Mithal, head of endocrinology at Max Healthcare hospital in New Delhi. Mithal, who was not involved in the study but attended the conference, highlighted the motivational aspect of the findings. “This is a strong incentive for weight loss—those who have been overweight or obese for a few years can reduce their risk by losing weight,” he said.

Interestingly, the study also found that obesity in women over 50 and men over 65 did not correlate with an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes. This suggests that early intervention to address overweight or obesity is crucial. “The lack of increased risk in older age groups is not surprising,” Mithal explained. “As people age, other factors become more significant in cardiovascular risk, and obesity likely becomes less critical than in younger ages.”

Long-Term Obesity in Younger Adults Significantly Increases Cardiovascular Risk, Study Finds

The importance of early intervention is further supported by data from the Union Health Ministry’s latest National Family Health Survey of 2019-21. The survey indicated that 24% of women and 22.9% of men aged 15-49 are overweight or obese, with BMI values of 25 or higher. This underscores the urgent need for public health strategies targeting weight management, particularly among younger populations.

In summary, the study presented at The Endocrine Society’s annual conference provides compelling evidence that long-term obesity significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke in individuals under 50. The findings highlight the importance of considering cumulative BMI over single-point measurements and underscore the potential for reducing cardiovascular risk through timely weight loss interventions. As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise globally, these insights are crucial for shaping public health policies and interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse health impacts of obesity.

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