Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of mortality globally among both women and men. The rates of CHD is increasing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries.
Adult overweight and obesity can exacerbate nearly all cardiovascular risk factors and are linked strongly to an increased risk of CHD. High body mass index (BMI) in childhood is associated with a higher risk for CHD in adults in both sexes. However, it has remained unclear to what extent this excess risk persists if overweight during childhood is reversed before young adulthood.
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics was a part of the population-based BMI Epidemiology Study (BEST) Gothenburg cohort and aimed to study the impact of BMI during childhood and puberty on adult diseases. The study showed that individuals who were overweight in childhood, lose weight and have normal weight during adulthood have similar risk for CHD as those who had normal weight in childhood and young adulthood (see the Graphic).
(Source: Ohlsson C, Bramsved R, Bygdell M, Martikainen J, Rosengren A, Kindblom JM. Change in weight status from childhood to young adulthood and risk of adult coronary heart disease. JAMA Pediatr. 2025;1:e254950. Doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.4950)