Large BMI increase during puberty may predispose to death by cardiovascular disease later in life

A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has found that boys with a large increase in BMI during puberty are at an increased risk of death due to CVD in later life. The study itself included over 37,000 men born between 1945 and 1961, and the change in BMI was calculated using BMI values at 8 and 20 years of age. The aim of the study was to evaluate the contribution of BMI for cardiovascular mortality, with the focus being the developmental period of puberty.

There was no increase in cardiovascular risk for those who were overweight before puberty, or those whose BMI normalised during puberty. BMI normally increases during puberty, however this study found that when BMI increases by more than 7 units, the risk of cardiovascular mortality later in life is also increased; this is by 22 per cent for every extra BMI unit. The researchers are now urging schools to monitor their students’ BMIs to ensure that they do not suffer from cardiovascular complications in the future.