There could be a relationship between losing weight and premature death in middle age, according to study

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(CNN) - Being overweight is related to many health problems, and losing a few kilos is often presented as the best way to avoid them, regardless of their age.

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But it's not that simple, according to a study published Wednesday in The BMJ that examines the link between changes in body weight and the risk of premature death.

The researchers found that the association between weight gain and mortality weakens as you get older, and losing weight in middle age or in advanced adulthood can increase the risk of premature death, especially when it comes to heart disease. .

"Our conclusion is that it is better to prevent weight gain at earlier ages to reduce the risk of premature death later in life," said study author An Pan, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Tongji Medical College in Wuhan, China.

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The study found that people who remained obese, as measured by body mass index (BMI), throughout their adult lives had the highest risk of premature death. Weight gain from the mid-20s to midlife was also associated with an increased risk of mortality compared to people who maintained their normal weight throughout their lives.

However, weight loss at middle and older age "was significantly related to an increased risk of mortality," said the study.

Obesity is the main public health problem in the United States and worldwide. In the US, 38% of women and 36% of men were clinically obese in 2016, according to data cited by the study, compared with 14% and 11%, respectively, in 1975.

Unintentional weight loss versus intentional loss

In what he described as a limitation of the research, Pan said the study did not include an analysis of the reason for future weight loss. One factor that could play a role was whether the weight loss was intentional or not.

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"Involuntary weight loss could be a sign of underlying conditions such as diabetes or cancer," Pan said. Another reason, he said, could be because weight loss involved someone who was already obese and, therefore, already had Greater risk

"The first message is to try not to gain weight when you are young and, in old age, focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle," said Pan. "Weight is a secondary consideration."

The study found that people who remained overweight, but not obese, throughout their adult lives had little or no association with an increased risk of premature death.

The study analyzed 36,052 people 40 years of age and older based on data from the US National Survey of Health and Nutrition Exam. UU.

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Participants' weight was measured as part of the study, and they were asked to share their weight 10 years before and at 25 years.

Deaths from any cause, and specifically from heart disease, were recorded for an average of 12 years, during which time there were 10,500 deaths.

The study found no significant link between various patterns of weight change and cancer deaths.

Previous research has linked a high BMI in adulthood with an increased risk of premature death, but much less is known about the role of changing body weight over time. Pan said more research is needed to unravel the reasons for the link between changes in body weight and mortality, and the long-term health consequences of weight loss.

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