Weight Loss Can Be Used To Control High Blood Pressure

We know that if you are overweight you increase your risk of developing high blood pressure and that the first line of attack in treating high blood pressure is to look at lifestyle changes including losing weight. What has not been clear however is whether or not there is a point at which your weight is so high that reducing it becomes less effective in controlling blood pressure. That is until now.

Research carried out in Italy has demonstrated that, as long as your weight is below the point at which you are formerly classified as being obese (a body mass index of 30 or more) reducing your weight will directly lower your blood pressure. However, once you pass the threshold of obesity changes occur in the structure of your blood vessels and weight loss alone will no longer produce a fall in blood pressure.