Do you have high blood pressure? If you’re overweight or obese, there’s a good chance you do, and unless you have regular checkups, you may not even know it. Studies have shown men and women who are overweight or obese often also suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension, a serious condition that can put you at risk for even more serious medical problems like heart attacks and stroke. Understanding the risks of hypertension and the relationship between high blood pressure and obesity is a critical step in ensuring you stay as healthy as possible. Here’s what you need to know.

• The more weight you gain, the greater your risk for developing significant hypertension. Studies have shown that the amount of weight gained is directly proportional to the level of hypertension a person experiences—more weight gain, higher blood pressure.
• While studies have shown weight gain increases the risk of hypertension, they’ve also demonstrated that losing weight can help decrease blood pressure. In fact, even modest weight loss of 10 percent can result in significant decreases in blood pressure.
• People with more fat around their waistlines tend to be at greater risk for developing higher blood pressures.
• Obesity-related hypertension increases your risks for serious medical conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, organ damage, and vision loss.
• Some studies have shown a link between obesity and changes in blood circulation patterns, which in turn place a strain on the heart. Other studies have shown obesity may actually cause the body to retain more sodium, which is a primary factor in elevating blood pressure.
• Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight are effective ways to manage high blood pressure without relying on medication, and they can lead to better overall health and a decrease of other health risks as well.

Losing weight isn’t easy for most people, and going it alone is even more difficult. At Signature Medicine, in Newtown, PA, Dr. Sitapara offers a supervised and structured medical weight loss program that is custom tailored for your needs and your lifestyle so you can achieve greater success in losing weight and keeping it off.