Young women who are obese may have a greater risk of heart attack or stroke, according to a new research.

In fact, women with a high body mass index (BMI) — a measure of the body’s fat content — that is indicative of obesity were twice as likely as those of normal weight to suffer a potentially life-threatening heart attack or stroke within just four to five years following childbirth, the study found

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen said that while these cardiac events are very rare among women of this age, there is a very clear and strong link between carrying excess weight and suffering a heart attack or stroke.

“Young women need to be aware that there are serious health risks associated with obesity and poor lifestyle habits, and these [negative effects] appear to set in early,” said Michelle Schmiegelow, a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen and the study’s author.