Many adults who are obese have "indistinguishable" cholesterol and blood pressure levels compared to those with a healthy weight, according to a new study.

In the past, obese adults were more likely to have increased blood pressure and higher levels of unhealthy cholesterol.

But a study found differences in unhealthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure between older adults have "narrowed or disappeared" among those aged 40 and over.

The study, published in The Lancet, saw researchers examine data on almost one million adults aged 20 to 79 from England, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Finland and the USA.

They looked at data on blood pressure, cholesterol levels and body mass index (BMI) scores taken from 110 health surveys conducted from 1990 to 2024.

Experts say the findings are largely due to use of cholesterol-busting medications, such as statins, and drugs to lower blood pressure - both of which which are more commonly used among people who are obese.

They said the findings are important to "give a picture of the cardiovascular health" of people likely to be prescribed weight loss medications, which have rapidly increased in popularity.

Professor Majid Ezzati, from the School of Public Health at 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."

They also examined information on the use of cholesterol-busting drugs and blood pressure treatment - known as antihypertensives.

The team found unhealthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure "declined over time", especially among those age 40 and over.

The declines were larger among people with obesity "leading to a convergence of these risk factors between obesity and normal BMI in people older than 40 years."

Author Yse d'Ailhaud de Brisis, also from Imperial College London, said: "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.

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