Race. Racial factors may influence the age of onset and the rapidity of weight gain. African American women and Hispanic women tend to experience weight gain earlier in life than Caucasians and Asians. Hispanic men tend to develop obesity earlier than African American and Caucasian men.

Childhood weight. A person's weight during childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood may also influence the development of adult obesity. For example:

Being mildly overweight in the early 20's was linked to a substantial incidence of obesity by age 35.

Being overweight during older childhood is highly predictive of adult obesity, especially if a parent is also obese.

Being overweight during teenage years is even a greater predictor of adult obesity.

Hormones. Women tend to gain weight especially during certain events such as pregnancy, menopause and in some cases with the use of oral contraceptives, however, with the availability of the newer low dose estrogen pills, weight gain has not been as great a risk.