Obese people aged over 40 now have similar cholesterol and blood pressure levels, thanks to widespread drugs such as statins, a groundbreaking Lancet study shows
Obese people aged over 40 are at no higher risk of heart attack than people of healthy weight, a global review has shown.
The surprising study found widely prescribed drugs such as statins mean that in some cases obese people were “better off” in terms of cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The study, published in The Lancet, saw researchers examine data on one million adults from England, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Finland, and the USA.
It found differences in unhealthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure between older adults have “narrowed or disappeared” in developed nations. Scientists said that while obese people were more unhealthy when looking at other measures, heart health may not be reason alone to prescribe them weight loss drugs, which are becoming increasingly popular.
Author Professor Majid Ezzati, of Imperial College London, said: “Our study suggests that, in high-income countries, taking medication to lower blood pressure and cholesterol has helped middle-age and older adults lower their cardiovascular risk to levels that are similar to people with normal BMI.
“At a time that weight-loss medications are becoming more widely used, our results give a picture of the cardiovascular health of people likely to be prescribed them, which allows the healthcare system to understand how blood pressure and cholesterol treatments benefit the population alongside weight-loss medications.”
The study looked at data on blood pressure, cholesterol levels and body mass index (BMI) scores taken from 110 health surveys conducted from 1990 to 2024. They included data on usage of cholesterol-busting drugs and blood pressure treatment known as antihypertensives.
Historically people carrying too much weight were more likely to have increased blood pressure and higher levels of unhealthy cholesterol. The new research found this is no longer the case for over 40s in developed nations. However the study found that in adults under the age of 40, those who were obese still had higher levels of bad cholesterol and higher blood pressure.
Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study highlights a powerful public health success story – it shows just how effective modern treatments for blood pressure and cholesterol have become, with many people over 40 with obesity now reaching levels similar to those with a healthy weight.
“This is testament to the impact of cardiovascular disease prevention strategies, the use of widely available and highly effective medicines, and the importance of people taking them as prescribed. But we must not lose sight of the bigger picture. These medications are needed because of the adverse effects of obesity on cardiovascular disease risk.
“Moreover, obesity still affects the body in many other ways and increases the risk of other health problems, including diabetes, kidney disease and some cancers.
“Preventing and reducing obesity would result in a range of health benefits, in many cases without the need for these additional medicines.”