The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study is a prospective cohort study of 5,115 black and white participants beginning in 1985 (Friedman et al., 1988). We analyzed 1,545 white participants aged 18 to 30 years at time of enrollment. BMI was assessed at baseline and up to 8 subsequent visits to ascertain incident severe obesity. Individuals with missing baseline BMI, severe obesity at baseline, and pregnant females were excluded.
