Metabolic traits in obesity and normal BMI in industrialised countries: a multi-country analysis of national population-based studies
An erratum to this article was published (Lancet, 24 Oct 2026 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
In industrialised countries, blood pressure and non-HDL cholesterol in older adults with obesity are increasingly similar to those with normal BMI, with higher use of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medicines a possible driver of this convergence.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged 20–79 years from national populations of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Finland, England and the USA, 1990–2024110 health surveys
- Participants
- 978,425 adults
- Comparison
- Obesity and overweight vs normal BMI
- Outcome
- Mean SBP, non-HDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, and proportion using antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medicines
Methodological detailsmulti-country, trend analysis
- Multi-country
- Trend analysis
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Change over time in difference vs normal BMI (pooled across countries, age groups, obesity and overweight BMI ranges) · 1990–2024
Obesity and overweight vs Normal BMIChange in difference in mean non-HDL cholesterol, mmol/L per decade (95% CI)
Females
−0.05(−0.07 to −0.03)
Males
−0.07(−0.09 to −0.05)
Obesity and overweight vs Normal BMIChange in difference in SBP, mmHg per decade (95% CI)
Females
−0.7(−1.0 to −0.4)
Males
−0.6(−0.9 to −0.4)
Obesity and overweight vs Normal BMIIncrease in difference in lipid-lowering medicine use, percentage points per decade (95% CI)
Females
1.5(1.0–2.1)
Males
1.6(1.0–2.2)
- Antihypertensive medicines, pooled increase in difference, females (percentage points per decade)
- 0.7 (0.3-1.0)
- Antihypertensive medicines, pooled increase in difference, males (percentage points per decade)
- 2.0 (1.3-2.8)
Further pooled results
Adults younger than 40 years (subgroup)
- Little change in the gap between obesity or overweight and normal BMI; rarely treated for high cholesterol or BP regardless of BMI
Original publication
Metabolic traits in obesity and normal BMI in industrialised countries: a multi-country analysis of national population-based studies. Lancet. Published 1 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →