Becoming obese before the age of 30 ‘raises your risk of dying young by 75%’ – are you at risk?

TOO much flab before the age of 30 can nearly double the risk of an early death, a study suggests.

Vast weight gain and obesity at any age were found to be linked to a shorter lifespan, but the impact was greatest between the ages of 17 and 30.

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Scientists say this is because health damage from fat builds up over time.

NHS figures show that approximately one in five under-35s in England – 19 per cent – are obese.

Professor Tanja Stocks, from Lund University in Sweden, said: “Even modest weight gains in your 20s 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.”

Prof Stocks’ study, which was presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, used decades of medical records from 620,000 people aged betweeb 17 and 60 who had their weight monitored.

On average, male participants were tracked for 23 years, and female participants for 12 years.

Experts said the years between 17 and 30 were a “critical life stage”.

They found becoming obese between these ages increased the risk of dying prematurely by 79 per cent for men and 84 per cent for women, compared to avoiding obesity until age 60.

Among the under-30s, every pound gained per year increased the risk of an early death by 24 per cent for men and 22 per cent for women.

Researchers calculated that weight gain before 30 increased the likelihood of early death from conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

For women specifically, weight gain increased their risk of death from cancer - regardless of when it happened.

Scientists said that the “cumulative” effect of carrying weight for a long time was the most deadly.

Those who gained weight later in life also had an increased risk, but to a lesser extent.

Study co-author Huyen Le said: “Avoiding weight gain, especially in your late teens and 20s, can have a major impact on your long-term health.

“Gaining weight early in adulthood, or developing obesity at a young age, is linked to a higher risk of dying from many chronic diseases later in life.

“Studies have also shown that weight gain in childhood is related to obesity in teenage and adulthood, which is why early obesity prevention is very important.”

People are classed as obese if their body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher – a weight of approximately 12st for an average 5’3” tall woman, or 14st for a 5’8” man.

A damning study published earlier this year said nearly 50 million Brits could be obese by 2050, up from 38.4million in 2021

The warning sparked fears of mounting pressure on hospitals and medical facilities, with researchers estimating it could cost the NHS up to £10billion a year.

Obesity is the second leading cause of cancer in the UK and also raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart diseases and dementia.

Scientists at presenting their findings at the obesity conference in Malaga said blockbuster weight loss jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro could be used a cancer-beating weapon, after research showed they halved people's risk of developing disease.

It was also suggested that obese children should be sent numberless scales by the NHS that allow doctors to monitor their weight remotely.

Hiding the figures aims to spare kid’s feelings and stop their parents obsessing over numbers, researchers said.