Long-Term BMI Trajectories And Epigenetic Age Acceleration: The Role Of Genetic Risk For Obesity
Have you ever wondered if your long-term weight patterns could affect how quickly your body ages internally? New research delves into this very question, exploring the connection between how our body mass index (BMI) changes over many years and something called “epigenetic age acceleration.” Epigenetic age acceleration refers to when your biological age, as measured by certain changes in your DNA, appears older than your actual chronological age. It’s like your cells are aging faster than your birth certificate suggests.
This study looked at different long-term BMI trajectories—essentially, how people’s weight status evolved over two decades, from consistently normal weight to consistently overweight or obese. They also considered individuals’ “genetic risk for obesity,” which is their inherited predisposition to gaining weight. The findings reveal that consistently living with obesity, over a long period, is indeed linked to a faster biological aging process. Interestingly, this accelerated aging was most evident in individuals who did not have a strong genetic predisposition to obesity. This suggests that for those with lower or moderate genetic risk, sustained healthy weight management could play a significant role in influencing their biological aging rate. On the other hand, being consistently overweight, but not obese, did not show the same link to accelerated biological aging. This research highlights the complex interplay between our lifestyle choices, our genes, and how they collectively impact the aging of our bodies at a fundamental level.
Source: link to paper