Modest weight gain boosts risk of disease in adulthood

Most adults gain weight as they age, but adding as little as five kilogrammes by middle age may substantially raise the risk of major illnesses, US researchers said last week.

Harvard University scientists found that even modest weight gain in adulthood “was associated with a significantly elevated incidence of a composite measure of major chronic diseases, consisting of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and non-traumatic death,” said the report in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study was based on survey data from more than 92,000 people, tracked from 1976 until 2012. Participants self-reported their estimated weight gains, beginning from age 18 in women and age 21 in men, through 55, an age researchers described as “middle adulthood.” Most people gained weight over that span. Women added an average of 10 kilogrammes, while men added about 8.6 kilos.

Compared to people who maintained their weight within five pounds of their young adult selves, however, those who bulked up faced significant increases in health problems - from heart disease to unhealthy ageing.

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“Each five-kilogramme weight gain was associated with a 30 per cent increased risk of type 2 diabetes, the report noted. Other risks included a 14 per cent increased risk of high blood pressure and eight per cent increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Weight-gainers also saw a six per cent increased risk of obesity-related cancer. Those who had never smoked saw a five per cent increased risk of dying prematurely. Overall, each five kilogramme weight gain was linked to a 17 per cent lower chance of achieving healthy ageing. Higher amounts of weight gain were associated with greater risk of chronic diseases, added the report.

Researchers said they hope their findings will help doctors and patients better understand the health consequences of gaining weight over time.