Longevity & AgingOlder Adults With Obesity Now Match Normal-BMI Peers on Key Heart Risk Markers
A large international study tracking adults from 1990 to 2024 found that older adults with obesity now show blood pressure and cholesterol levels similar to those with normal BMI. This convergence is largely driven by widespread use of blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications. However, young adults under 40 with obesity still carry significantly higher cardiovascular risk, and are rarely treated for these conditions. Experts warn this does not mean obesity is harmless — it remains linked to diabetes, kidney disease, fatty liver, cancer, and inflammation. The findings highlight a gap in preventive care for younger adults and underscore that medication use is masking, not eliminating, the broader metabolic burden of obesity.
