226. Early adulthood is now when people gain the most weight
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
More people are putting on weight than ever. It now appears that much of this extra weight comes early in adulthood. In a new study published in the Journal of Obesity, researchers at Brigham Young University collected data on 10-year weight change patterns from almost 14,000 American adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. More than half of Americans gained 5 percent or more body weight during a 10-year period. More than one-third of Americans gained 10 percent or more body weight. And nearly one-fifth gained 20 percent or more body weight. Surprisingly, a large percentage of those extra pounds were added in early adulthood. The average American gained about 17.6 pounds from their mid-20s to mid-30s. By their fifties and sixties, though, the average weight gain was less than five pounds.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
