WOMEN who were overweight as teenagers or adults are much more likely to suffer a stroke in middle age, new research warns.
But men who were overweight when they were young don’t have the same chances, according to the 40-year study.
Researchers have found that women who are overweight at age 14 or 31 may have an increased risk of having an ischemic or clot-driven stroke before age 55.
Even losing weight after adolescence may not eliminate the risk, scientists say.
A team from Finland followed more than 10,000 men and women from birth for the study, published in the journal Stroke.
They found that women who were obese at age 14 were 87% more likely to have an early stroke caused by clots or a mini-stroke, while those who were obese at age 31 were 167% more likely to have a stroke compared to those aged 31. an appropriate weight.
Women who were obese at age 31 were almost 3.5 times more likely to experience a hemorrhagic stroke, and men who were obese at age 31 had a 5.5 times greater risk of experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke.
An ischemic stroke occurs when a vessel supplying blood to the brain becomes blocked. They represent 87% of all strokes.
The study suggests that women who were overweight at age 14 had a later risk of stroke caused by blood clots, despite having lost weight by age 31.
And women who were overweight at age 31 were associated with a later risk of stroke caused by clots, despite being of normal weight at age 14.
An increased risk of stroke caused by clots was not found in overweight men at age 14 or 31.
But men who were clinically obese at age 31 had a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke compared to women who were obese at the same age.
Study lead author Ursula Mikkola said: “Our findings suggest that being overweight can have long-term health effects, even if being overweight is temporary.
“Health professionals should pay attention to overweight and obesity in young people and work with them to develop healthier eating patterns and physical activity.
“However, conversations with teens and young adults about weight should be approached in a non-judgmental and non-stigmatizing way.”
The research team used body mass index (BMI) to explore whether those who were overweight or obese at age 14 or 31 had a different risk of early stroke compared to their peers who were not overweight or obese at age same age.
About one in 20 participants suffered a stroke caused by clots or a transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke, during the average follow-up period of nearly 39 years after the assessment at age 14 and nearly 23 years after the assessment at age 31. years.
BMI measurements in early childhood or later in adulthood did not appear to affect the results.
But the research team said it’s important to note that weight isn’t the only health factor that impacts stroke risk.
Ms Mikkola said: “By living a healthy lifestyle – eating better, not smoking, sleeping healthily, controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels, avoiding excessive alcohol use and being physically active – you can lower your risk of stroke, even if you were overweight when you were younger.”
How to lose weight safely
Losing weight should be a long-term commitment to healthier living rather than any drastic measures.
Tips from the NHS – which can be adopted slowly – include:
- Stay active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Aim to get 5 a day – 80g of fresh, tinned or frozen fruit or vegetables counts as 1 serving
- Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds, or 0.5 to 1 kg, per week
- Read food labels – products that are color coded greener than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Swap sugary drinks for water – if you don’t like the taste, add lemon or lime slices for flavor
- Reduce your consumption of foods high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary cereals for whole-grain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help motivate you when you have a bad day
Read about:
- The five bases for fat loss
- The calorie formula for weight loss
- The Perfect Portion Sizes for Weight Loss Meals
- Sun Health 8-Week Weight Loss Starter Plan
Researchers don’t know why the association of increased risk of stroke caused by clots was not found in men.
They are currently investigating potential causes as well as other risk factors in more detail.
Mikkola, a researcher at the Population Health Research Unit at the University of Oulu, added: “Stroke at a young age is rare, so the difference of just a few strokes can have an outsized impact on risk estimates.
“Furthermore, BMI depends only on a person’s height and weight, so a high BMI can be a misleading way to define obesity, especially in muscular people who may have little fat even though they weigh more.”
Professor Larry Goldstein of the American Heart Association Stroke Council said of the findings: “This study provides additional evidence of an association between overweight/obesity and stroke in young adults.
“However, although it is tempting to assume that reductions in overweight/obesity in younger populations would translate into lower rates of stroke in young adults, this remains to be proven.”
Around 100,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UK – one every five minutes.
What are the symptoms of stroke?
The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common stroke symptoms:
F = Drooping face – if one side of a person’s face is drooping or numb, ask them to smile; if it is irregular, you should seek help.
A = Arm weakness – if one arm is weak or numb, you should ask the person to raise both arms. If an arm falls down, you may need help
s = Speech difficulty – if a person’s speech is slurred, this could be a sign of a stroke
T = Time to call 999 – if a person displays the above signs, you will need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency assistance.
Other symptoms include:
- sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- difficulty finding words
- sudden blurred vision or loss of vision
- sudden confusion, dizziness, or unsteadiness
- a sudden, intense headache
- difficulty understanding what others are saying
- difficulty swallowing
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
