In the midst of a rapid increase in childhood obesity both in India and globally, researchers from University College London have issued a stark warning: individuals who gain excessive weight from their 20s onwards may face weakened hearts by the time they reach their 60s.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, underscores that early weight gain has lasting implications on heart health, separate from the effects of later-life obesity. Alun Hughes, Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology at UCL, emphasised that while the adverse effects of being overweight on heart health are known, the long-term impact of weight gain across adulthood remains less understood.
He said that while it is known that “being overweight is associated with poorer heart health, we know little about the long-term relationship between being overweight over the adult life course and subsequent heart health”.
The study holds importance for countries across the globe including in India, given that obesity is one of the major symptoms of diseases like type 2 diabetes, kidney problems, hypertension (high blood pressure), gut issues and even liver diseases. A person is considered obese when their body mass index (BMI, a measure of body fat based on an individual's weight and height) is more than 30. Statistics reveal a concerning trend, with over 1.25 crore children aged 5 to 19 in India now classified as overweight, a significant rise from 40 lakh in 1990.
Hughes noted that the research aimed “to look at whether being overweight at earlier stages of adult life showed lasting associations with poorer heart health irrespective of people's weight in later life”.
The study included 1,690 people born in England, Scotland, and Wales in 1946. The participants were examined based on their body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, and ECGs.
Researchers found that elevated BMI from age 20 onwards led to higher left ventricular mass in individuals in their 60s, indicating poor heart health and increased mortality risk. A five-unit higher BMI at age 43 correlated with a 15 per cent or 27-gram increase in left ventricular mass.
They added that the study included mostly white European people, so it may not apply to the global population, although Professor Hughes said there is a close link.
With alarm bells ringing, particularly for the young, these findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the obesity epidemic in India, aiming to safeguard future generations from serious cardiovascular health risks.
World over too, the picture is not very encouraging. A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) study reported that over one billion people have been struggling with obesity across the globe.
