FAT FEARS
Killer condition more likely to strike women who were overweight in their teens or 30s – even if they slim down later
Would you be able to recognise the symptoms before it was too late?
WOMEN who were overweight as teenagers or young adults are far more likely to suffer a stroke by mid-life, warns new research.
But men who were overweight as youngsters do not have the same chances, according to the 40-year study.
1
Researchers found that women carrying excess weight at age 14 or 31 may be at an increased risk of suffering an ischemic, or clot-caused, stroke before the age of 55.
Even slimming down 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 women obese at the age of 14 were 87 per cent more likely to have an early clot-caused stroke or mini-stroke, while those obese at the age of 31 were 167 per cent more likely to have a stroke compared to those of an appropriate weight.
READ MORE HEALTH NEWS
Women obese at the age 31 were almost 3.5 times more likely to suffer a bleeding stroke, and men obese at age 31 had a more than 5.5 times increased risk of a bleeding stroke.
An ischemic stroke occurs when a vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed. They account for 87 per cent of all strokes.
The study suggests that women who were overweight at age 14 had later clot-caused stroke risk, despite having lost weight by the age of 31.
And women who were overweight aged 31 were associated had later clot-caused stroke risk, despite having been normal weight at the age of 14.
Most read in Health
An increased risk of clot-caused stroke was not found in men who were overweight at ages 14 or 31.
But men who were clinically obese aged 31 had a higher risk of a bleeding stroke compared to women who were obese at the same age.
How to actually lose weight from an expert
Study lead author Ursula Mikkola said: "Our findings suggest that being overweight may have long-term health effects even if the excess weight is temporary.
"Health care 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-stigmatising manner."
The research team used body mass index (BMI) to explore whether those who were overweight or obese at age 14 or age 31 had a different risk of early stroke compared to their peers who were not overweight or obese at the same age.
Around one in 20 participants experienced a clot-caused stroke or transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke, during the average follow-up period of almost 39 years after the evaluation at the age of 14 and almost 23 years after the evaluation at 31.
BMI measurements earlier in childhood or later in adulthood did not appear to affect the results.
But the research team said that it is important to note that weight is not the only health factor that impacts stroke risk.
Ms Mikkola said: "By living a healthy lifestyle - eating better, not smoking, healthy sleep, managing blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels, avoiding excess 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.
The NHS tips - which can be adopted slowly - include:
- Get active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Aim to get your 5 A Day – 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or vegetables count as 1 portion
- Aim to lose 1 to 2lbs, or 0.5 to 1kg, a week
- Read food labels – products with more green colour coding than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Swap sugary drinks for water – if you do not like the taste, add slices of lemon or lime for flavour
- Cut down on food that's high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary cereal for wholegrain 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 fat loss foundations
- The calorie formula for weight loss
- The perfect portion sizes for meals to lose weight
- Sun Health's 8-week weight loss kick start plan
The researchers do not know why the association of increased risk for clot-caused stroke was not found in men.
They are currently investigating the potential causes as well as other risk factors in more detail.
Ms Mikkola, an investigator in the Research Unit of Population Health at the University of Oulu, added: "Stroke at a young age is rare, so the difference of just a few strokes could have an outsized impact on the risk estimates.
"Also, BMI relies solely on a person's height and weight, therefore, a high BMI may be a misleading way to define obesity, especially in muscular people who may carry little fat even while weighing 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.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"However, while it is tempting to assume that reductions in overweight/obesity in younger populations would translate to lower stroke rates in young adults, this remains to be proven."
Around 100,000 people have 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 symptoms of stroke:
F = Face drooping - if one side of a person's face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it's uneven then you should seek help.
A = Arm weakness - if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards then you might need to get help
S = Speech difficulty - if a person's speech is slurred then this could be a sign of a stroke
T = Time to call 999 - if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care.
Other symptoms include:
- sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- difficulty finding words
- sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
- sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness
- a sudden and severe headache
- difficulty understanding what others are saying
- difficulty swallowing