Obesity in adolescent men increases the risk of venous thromboembolism in adult life

BACKGROUND As the population of obese and severely obese young adults grows, it is becoming increasingly important to recognize the long-term risks associated with adolescent obesity. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine the association between body mass index (BMI) in young men at enlistment for military service and later risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). METHODS Nationwide register-based prospective cohort study of men enlisting 1969 to 2005, followed through the Swedish National Patient and Cause of Death registries. We identified 1 639 838 men (mean age, 18.3 years) free of prior venous thromboembolism, of whom 29 342 were obese (BMI 30 to