A study reported by several outlets says that for many adults aged over 40, obesity no longer translates into clearly worse cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The research finds that people with obesity can show “indistinguishable” or near-normal cholesterol and blood pressure compared with those who have a healthy body mass index (BMI). Multiple reports attribute part of this effect to widespread use of cardiovascular medications, particularly statins and blood-pressure drugs. The Times, as cited by other outlets, frames the findings as statins “cut the heart risk gap” between obese and slim adults, suggesting that treatment reduces differences that would otherwise be expected. The Telegraph similarly describes obesity-related heart risk as approaching that seen in slimmer adults for the over-40 group, linking this to medication use. The Guardian adds that, in some cases, individuals with obesity may be “better off” than those with normal BMI, based on the study’s measurements. The reports present the findings as evidence that medical treatment can substantially level cholesterol and blood pressure outcomes across weight groups in this age range.