A recent study revealed that cholesterol and blood pressure lowering drugs, primarily statins, significantly improved heart health indicators in middle-aged obese adults.
According to the study published in The Lancet, blood pressure and cholesterol levels in those over 40 are now very similar between obese and normal-weight individuals, and some results were even better among a group of obese people, according to the researchers.
Experts attribute this improvement primarily to the widespread use of cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins, and blood pressure medications, which are used more frequently among obese people.
The study included an analysis of data from nearly one million people aged between 20 and 79 in seven wealthy countries, including England and the United States, during the period from 1990 to 2024.
The results indicate that the gap that previously existed between obese and non-obese individuals, with regard to blood pressure and bad cholesterol, has significantly narrowed or disappeared entirely among those over the age of 40.
However, the researchers emphasize that these results do not mean the disappearance of health risks associated with obesity, but rather reflect the effect of drug treatments in improving only some vital signs, especially among older age groups.
In this context, Professor Majid Ezzati from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London said: "Our study shows that blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering drugs helped middle-aged and older adults achieve similar levels in cardiovascular indicators compared to those of normal weight."
He added that these results are important in light of the increasing use of weight loss drugs, because they provide a clearer picture of heart health among groups who may use these treatments in the future.
The study also showed that levels of bad cholesterol and blood pressure generally decreased over time, especially among those over forty years old, and the decrease was greater among those with obesity, leading to a clear convergence in risk factors between the two groups.
However, the study also revealed that obese adults under the age of 40 still suffer from higher levels of cholesterol and blood pressure compared to their peers.
Researcher Yce Delhaude de Precy said the results were "reassuring for older adults, but at the same time they indicate the need to focus on early prevention among younger groups through a healthy lifestyle, early screening and treatment when needed."
For his part, Lakshya Jain explained that this convergence in health indicators "is mostly due to the spread of cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure-lowering drugs," stressing that it represents "an important success in public health."
In a separate comment, Professor Brian Williams of the British Heart Foundation said the study reflected "clear success in preventing heart disease," but also stressed that obesity still carries other health risks such as diabetes, kidney disease and some types of cancer, making prevention essential despite therapeutic advances.
