Key facts
- A study found that many adults over 40 with obesity have cholesterol and blood pressure levels similar to those with a normal BMI.
- This convergence is largely attributed to the increased use of statins and blood pressure medications.
- The study analyzed data from almost 1 million adults across seven countries between 1990 and 2024.
- Unhealthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels declined over time, with larger decreases observed in individuals with obesity.
- For adults under 40, obesity was still associated with higher levels of unhealthy cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Experts emphasized that obesity still carries risks for other health conditions beyond cardiovascular factors.
A study published in The Lancet indicates that many adults over the age of 40 who are obese have cholesterol and blood pressure levels that are indistinguishable from, or even better than, those with a normal body mass index (BMI). Researchers analyzed data from nearly 1 million adults across England, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Finland, and the USA, collected between 1990 and 2024.
The findings suggest that advancements in medical treatments, particularly the widespread use of statins to lower cholesterol and antihypertensive drugs to reduce blood pressure, have significantly narrowed or eliminated the cardiovascular risk factor gap between obese and normal-weight individuals in this age group. The study observed that unhealthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure declined over time, with these declines being more pronounced among individuals with obesity, leading to a convergence of these cardiometabolic traits.
However, the study also highlighted that for adults under the age of 40, obesity remains associated with higher levels of unhealthy cholesterol and elevated blood pressure. Experts emphasized that while these findings represent a public health success in managing cardiovascular risk for older adults, obesity still contributes to increased risks for other health problems, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and certain cancers. They stressed the importance of continued lifestyle interventions, screening, and appropriate medication for younger adults to prevent long-term complications.