Body Weight Obesity, diabetes linked to higher risk of arterial hypertension
By Sue Mueller
Nov 16, 2008 - 7:12:38 AM
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A new study found that obesity, overweight and diabetes is
linked to increased risk of arterial hypertension, particularly in women and
individuals age 30 or older.
Overweight and obesity has been linked to increased risk
of cardiovascular disease like heart disease and diabetes among others.
Particularly belly fat is a strong predictor
of the risk and some researchers view large waist circumference as an
independent risk factor.
The current study led by J. B. Barbosa and colleagues
from Universidade Federal do Maranhão in São Luís, MA, Brasil and published in
the Oct 2008 issue of
Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia showed that arterial
hypertension was more common among individuals with overweight, obesity and
diabetes.
The researchers found people with overweight, obesity or
diabetes were 2.09 times, 2.68 times and 1.56 times respectively as likely as
those with normal body weight or without diabetes to develop arterial hypertension.
The study included 835 individuals age 18 or older.
Arterial pressure, weight, height and waist circumference were measured and
risk factors for cardiovascular were assessed.
The researchers concluded "These findings suggest
the need to control overweight, obesity and diabetes, especially among women
and individuals > 30 years of age in order to reduce the prevalence of
arterial hypertension."
Previous studies have shown abdominal obesity may be
even more risky. Abdominal fat is a factor not only for increased risk of heart
disease and diabetes, but also for premature death, according to a new study of
about 360,000 Europeans.
The study authors Tobias Pischon, MD, MPH and colleagues
at the Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition reported
their study in the Nov. 12 issue of
The New England Journal of Medicine saying
that people with the most belly fat were almost twice as likely to die
prematurely as people with the least amount.
They found the increased risk was seen even in those who
had a large waist circumstance, but no overweight. The finding again suggests
that the body mass index may not be an adequate measure for assessing the risk
of excess body weight.
The question is, how can we prevent abdominal adipose? Of
course, we can eat less and do more physical exercise to make our waists
smaller.
But do all the foods we eat
have the same effect on accumulation of abdominal adipose or belly fat?
We will report some studies on the issue
later.