> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Weight loss normalizes blood pressure in obese or overweight people
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/weight_loss_high_blood_pressure_0926120959/
- Published: 2012-09-26T22:58:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:53:21.000Z
- Description: A review in Obesity Research reports that weight gain in adulthood promotes hypertension while weight loss is the most effective non-drug way to lower blood pressure. Losing 5 to 10% of starting weight can normalize pressure in some patients and let others stop taking drugs.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Disease, Health News, #vivvo-import

By Jimmy Downs

Wednesday Sept 26, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- A review in Obesity Research suggests that obese and overweight people are more likely to suffer high blood pressure and weight loss can help them lower or even normalize blood pressure.

Epidemiological studies have shown an association between body mass index and blood pressure in normal weight and overweight individuals, according to the authors Ilse L. Mertens and Dr. Luc F. van Gaal of University Hospital Antwerp in Edegem (Antwerp), Belgium.

The association does not seem to be a work of chance. Weight gain in adult life seems to promote the development of hypertension whereas weight loss has been proved to be the most effective nonpharmacological treatment to lower blood pressure. Obese hypertensive patients are often advised to pursue weight loss to get high blood pressure under control.

In recent years, according to the authors, moderate weight loss, defined as losing 5 to 10 percent of initial weight, is recommended for overweight and obese patients because long-term weight loss programs are usually unable to sustain good outcomes and long term yet moderate weight losss is more likely to be maintained.

Moderate weight loss is effective in lowering high blood pressure in both hypertensive and nonnhypertensive patients and in some cases, moderate weight loss can even normalize blood pressure. 

The antihypertensive effect of a moderate weight loss has been demonstrated in patients taking antihypertensive medications. In this case, many patients who moderately lost weight had no longer needed antihypertensive drugs.

For those who had high yet normal blood pressure, a moderate weight loss could prevent the development of hypertension or high blood pressure.

The authors speculated that weight loss lowers blood pressure likely by improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing sympathetic nervous system activity, independent of salt restriction and they concluded "a modest weight loss that can be maintained over a longer period of time is a valuable treatment goal in hypertensive patients."

About 33 percent of U.S. adults or about 68 million American adults have high blood pressure, which is also called hypertension. This condition is considered a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Obesity affects about one third of American adults. Obesity has been linked with a number of serious chronic diseases including but not limited to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus.