creases, their blood pressure rises. An obese person is at a much higher risk of developing high blood pressure than a person who maintains weight within a desirable range. The distribution of weight may influence risk as well. People who gain weight in their upper body (e.g., pot-bellied) are at greater risk than people who gain most of their weight in the lower body (e.g., hips and thighs) (U.S. Department of Health, 1990, p. 9).
Weight loss of even a few pounds can have a positive effect on the reduction of blood pressure. A reduction in weight of about 10 pounds can lead to clinically significant
...