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Updated: May 12, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Association between younger age when first overweight and increased risk for CKD
Richard J Silverwood1, Mary Pierce, Claudia Thomas
1Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom. Richard.Silverwood@lshtm.ac.uk
Preventing overweight in early adulthood significantly lowers the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Earlier onset of overweight, particularly by ages 26 or 36, doubles CKD odds by age 60-64.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence is rising globally.
- The cumulative impact of overweight and obesity on CKD risk throughout adulthood remains under-investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between the duration of overweight/obesity exposure and the risk of developing CKD.
- To determine if prolonged overweight status in adulthood cumulatively increases later-life CKD risk.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development (UK).
- Inclusion of 4584 participants with body mass index (BMI) data from age 20 to 60-64 years.
- CKD diagnosis based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) at age 60-64 years.
Main Results:
- Individuals first becoming overweight at younger adult ages (26 or 36 years) had approximately double the odds of developing CKD by age 60-64.
- The association between overweight onset and CKD risk weakened with increasing age at first overweight.
- Findings were consistent across different measures of kidney function (creatinine-based eGFR, cystatin C-based eGFR, UACR).
Conclusions:
- Preventing overweight in early adulthood may substantially reduce the population's CKD prevalence.
- The timing of weight gain is a critical factor in the development of chronic kidney disease.
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