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Guidelines on Overweight and Obesity: Electronic Textbook ![]() |
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HypertensionData from NHANES III show
that the age-adjusted prevalence of high blood pressure increases progressively
with higher levels of BMI in men and women (Figure 2) (2). Figure 2.
NHANES III Age-Adjusted Prevalence of ![]()
High blood pressure is
defined as mean systolic blood pressure
Obesity and hypertension are comorbid risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. The pathophysiology underlying the development of hypertension associated with obesity includes sodium retention and associated increases in vascular resistance, blood volume, and cardiac output. These cardiovascular abnormalities associated with obesity are believed to be related to a combination of increased sodium retention, increased sympathetic nervous system activity, alterations of the renin-angiotensin system and insulin resistance. The precise mechanism whereby weight loss results in a decrease in blood pressure is unknown. However, it is known that weight loss is associated with a reduction in vascular resistance and total blood volume and cardiac output, an improvement in insulin resistance, a reduction in sypathetic nervous system activity, and suppression of the activity of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (764-769). |