On the bright side, young people who were overweight for less than twelve months had mostly managed to get back to a normal weight by their early 20s. Young women who became overweight as teenagers were better at returning to a more healthy weight than young men. Females are more likely to perceive themselves as being overweight at normal weights (while) overweight males are more likely to see themselves as at a normal weightThese differences lead to females being more likely than males to take measures to control their weight and may explain the gender differences in weight gain, Professor Patton said.

The study was welcomed by Louise Baur, director of the NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity at the University of Sydney, who said it was an important contribution that highlights the importance of early adulthood as a vital period for the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The study was published online by the Journal of Adolescent Health.