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Rachel V Thomas

The Lancet: Young Adults With Obesity Face Higher Heart Risk; Statins Benefit Older Adults

<span>Adults under 40</span> with <span>obesity</span> continue to face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than their peers with a normal Body Mass Index (<span>BMI</span>), according to a new study published in <span>The Lancet</span>.

The international study, led by researchers at Imperial College London, found that differences in blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels between older adults with obesity and those with a normal BMI have narrowed—or even disappeared—in several high-income countries over the past three decades. In contrast, little or no such improvement was seen among younger adults.

<h2>Younger Adults Show No Similar Improvement</h2>

The findings suggest that adults under 40 with obesity continue to have higher blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels than those with a normal BMI.

Obesity is a key risk factor for heart disease.

Researchers also found that the use of cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure medications remains low in this age group, supporting the idea that medication has played a key role in reducing <span>cardiovascular risk</span> among older adults.

"While good news for older adults with obesity, our results suggest that cardiovascular health risks remain higher for adults under 40 than for their counterparts with a normal BMI,” said author Ysé d'Ailhaud de Brisis, from the School of Public Health at Imperial.

"Early lifestyle interventions, screening, and, when appropriate, medication in this younger group should be considered to prevent long-term cardiovascular complications linked to obesity," de Brisis added.

Since the 1990s, blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels have fallen more rapidly among adults aged 40 to 79 with obesity than among those with a normal BMI in most of the seven high-income countries studied, including England and the US.

The greatest improvements were seen among adults aged 60 to 79. In England and the US older adults with obesity—particularly those with severe obesity—had similar or even lower blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels than those with a normal BMI by the end of the study period.

<h2>Heart Medications May Explain the Trend</h2>

The researchers said the narrowing gap is largely due to increased use of cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, and blood pressure medicines among adults over 40 with obesity.

For example, by the early 2020s, around 70% to 72% of older men with severe obesity in England and the US were taking cholesterol-lowering medication, compared with 40% to 48% of older men with a normal BMI.

“This latest analysis suggests that the observed convergence in cholesterol and blood pressure levels between people aged over 40 with obesity and those with a normal BMI is largely due to statins and other widely accessible medications to reduce cardiovascular risk. That is a significant public health success story, and one we should not lose sight of as new weight-loss medications enter the picture,” said author Lakshya Jain, from the School of Public Health at Imperial.

The researchers analyzed blood pressure and cholesterol data from nearly one million participants across 110 health datasets collected between 1990 and 2024.

The study included people with obesity, overweight and normal BMI from seven high-income countries: England, the US, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Finland.

The authors also acknowledged limitations of the study such as, the findings may not apply to low- and middle-income countries, where access to cholesterol- and blood pressure-lowering medications is lower. Further, the  study could also not assess the impact of different medication doses because prescription data were unavailable.

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Adults Under 40

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Adults under 40 with obesity continue to face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than their peers with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI), according to a new study published in The Lancet.The international study, led by researchers at Imperial College London, found that differences in blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels between older adults with obesity and those with a normal BMI have narrowed—or even disappeared—in several high-income countries over the past three decades. In contrast, little or no such improvement was seen among younger adults.Younger Adults Show No Similar ImprovementThe findings suggest that adults under 40 with obesity continue to have higher blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels than those with a normal BMI.Obesity is a key risk factor for heart disease.Researchers also found that the use of cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure medications remains low in this age group, supporting the idea that medication has played a key role in reducing cardiovascular risk among older adults."While good news for older adults with obesity, our results suggest that cardiovascular health risks remain higher for adults under 40 than for their counterparts with a normal BMI,” said author Ysé d'Ailhaud de Brisis, from the School of Public Health at Imperial."Early lifestyle interventions, screening, and, when appropriate, medication in this younger group should be considered to prevent long-term cardiovascular complications linked to obesity," de Brisis added.Older Adults See Reduced RiskSince the 1990s, blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels have fallen more rapidly among adults aged 40 to 79 with obesity than among those with a normal BMI in most of the seven high-income countries studied, including England and the US.The greatest improvements were seen among adults aged 60 to 79. In England and the US older adults with obesity—particularly those with severe obesity—had similar or even lower blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels than those with a normal BMI by the end of the study period.Heart Medications May Explain the TrendThe researchers said the narrowing gap is largely due to increased use of cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, and blood pressure medicines among adults over 40 with obesity.For example, by the early 2020s, around 70% to 72% of older men with severe obesity in England and the US were taking cholesterol-lowering medication, compared with 40% to 48% of older men with a normal BMI.“This latest analysis suggests that the observed convergence in cholesterol and blood pressure levels between people aged over 40 with obesity and those with a normal BMI is largely due to statins and other widely accessible medications to reduce cardiovascular risk. That is a significant public health success story, and one we should not lose sight of as new weight-loss medications enter the picture,” said author Lakshya Jain, from the School of Public Health at Imperial.How Was the Study Conducted?The researchers analyzed blood pressure and cholesterol data from nearly one million participants across 110 health datasets collected between 1990 and 2024.The study included people with obesity, overweight and normal BMI from seven high-income countries: England, the US, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Finland.The authors also acknowledged limitations of the study such as, the findings may not apply to low- and middle-income countries, where access to cholesterol- and blood pressure-lowering medications is lower. Further, the  study could also not assess the impact of different medication doses because prescription data were unavailable.

the lancet: young adults with obesity face higher heart risk; statins benefit older adults

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The Lancet: Young Adults With Obesity Face Higher Heart Risk; Statins Benefit Older Adults

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