Early adulthood seems to be the key age at which people adopt unhealthy lifestyles, piling on cholesterol and body-fat, it was claimed last night.
The findings cast a new light on concerns about childhood obesity, which has led many experts to warn of future health problems.
Researchers from Finland and Australia say that most research does not show a strong link between childhood obesity and future cholesterol levels – as some plump children may shed their excess weight.
And habits such as drinking and smoking may be picked up during teenaged years, dramatically changing an individual’s prospects for good health.
Their own study involved more than 500 young adults.
The findings are published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
The researchers say that a "substantial proportion" of the children found to have high cholesterol levels did not have the problem by the time they reached adulthood.
They found that others put on weight as they reached adulthood – and this was often linked to a loss of fitness and a lack of success in life.
The research was led by Dr Costan Magnussen, of the University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia, and the University of Turku, Finland.
Dr Magnussen writes: "Preventative programmes aimed at those who do not have high-risk blood lipid and lipoprotein levels in youth are equally important if the proportion of adults with high-risk levels is to be reduced."
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;165[1]:68-76
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