The Age That Helps Predict Your Future Weight

Twenty-five is one of those ages that means something. Smack dab in the middle of your future-shaping (and occasionally tumultuous) twenties, it's an age that makes you pause and think about where you are and where you want to be. Well, here's one more aspect of your life that you should examine during that reflective time: your weight. A new multi-university study from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that being obese by age 25 increases your risk for serious weight problems down the road.

MORE: 6 Reasons the Scale Won't Budge

Researchers recently analyzed data on obese adults, ages 35 and up, who were part of the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which spanned from 1999 to 2010. All of the adults included in the sample were 25 at some point during the NHANES survey. Turns out, women who were obese at age 25 had a 46.9 percent chance of class three obesity, compared to just 4.8 percent of those who were at a normal weight during that time. Granted, this study only looked at individuals who were obese in 2013—but still, it's an alarming association.

MORE: Lose up to 30 Pounds in 30 Days by exercising once a WEEK!

The good news? The study also found that your present weight is a better indicator of your future metabolic and cardiovascular risk than how long you were obese for—which basically means that losing weight at any point will help reduce your risk, regardless of where you’re coming from.

To that end, let us shout this from the rooftops: It is not—we repeat, not—impossible to tone up and slim down after age 25. Want proof? Check out these amazing success stories from women who did just that—and changed their lives for good!

MORE: The Ingredient That's Crucial for Weight Loss

1. Prev:Meryl Streeps Brilliant Advice About Women and Weight
2. Next:Bummer Alert: The Minimum Exercise Guidelines Arent Enough to Stop Weight Gain