The Effects of Obesity on Blood Pressure

There are many health risks associated with obesity, such as heart disease and stroke. Blood pressure is one of the leading indicators used to assess the probability of these complications.

What is Blood Pressure?

• Blood pressure is the measure of stress created by blood pushing against the arterial walls as it courses through the body. The value of this pressure during a heart beat is called systolic. The value of the pressure when the heart is between beats is called diastolic. Blood pressure is considered high when the systolic pressure is above 140 and diastolic pressure is above 90.

What is Obesity?

• Obesity is a condition characterized by an excessively high percentage of body fat. A Body Mass Index of 30 (or 20% above normal weight) is considered obese.

Effects

• Obese adults are twice as likely to suffer from high blood pressure than people of healthy weight.

The Cholesterol Link

• Obesity is linked to low levels of HDL ("good" cholesterol) and high levels of LDL ("bad" cholesterol), which leads to increased plaque build up on the arterial walls. This narrowing of the arterial passageways forces the heart to pump harder to move blood through the body, elevating blood pressure.

The Gene Link

• Research is ongoing, but there is evidence to suggest that a single gene may be linked to a propensity toward obesity and high blood pressure. Evidence suggests that people who inherit two copies of this gene and who do not lead an active lifestyle are at risk for developing these harmful conditions.