For many adults, weight gain is slow and steady, but new research suggests that even a few extra pounds can boost your risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.” […] On average, people gain about a half a pound to a pound per year. Most people gain weight all the way to 55 and up,” Hu said. “But once you cross the obesity threshold, it’s difficult to go back. This study provides very strong evidence that prevention of weight gain is very important.” (Source: US News)
Two large-scale studies in the United States focused on weight gain and its connection to health problems. The studies included almost 93,000 women whose health was followed for 18 years, and more than 25,000 men whose health was followed for 15 years. The researchers found that for every 11 pounds gained the risk of certain conditions increased, including:
- 30% higher risk of diabetes
- 14% higher risk of high blood pressure
- 8% higher risk of heart disease or stroke
- 6% increased risk of an obesity-related cancer
- 5% higher risk of dying prematurely
- 17% decrease in the odds of healthy aging
If you notice yourself gaining weight it is best to begin trying to modify the factors/behaviors that you believe are affecting your weight as soon as possible.
Although it’s never too late to gain health benefits from losing weight, it becomes much harder to take weight off and keep it off the heavier you get. (Source: US News)
To learn more about these studies and their findings read this article: “More Evidence That Midlife Weight Gain Harms Your Health.”
“Excess fat around the heart, in both men and women, is an evolving risk factor for heart disease. But how can clinicians see it at a regular physical? They can’t without a special heart scan,” said senior author Samar El Khoudary, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of epidemiology at Pitt Public Health.