Current News on Obesity
Obesity and High Blood Pressure
There is a significantly increased risk of high blood pressure in overweight people With increased blood pressure comes increased risk of cardiovascular problems. Why does obesity bring a higher risk of hypertension?
Part of link has to do with the fact that obesity induces a high secretion of insulin in trying to decrease sugar levels in the blood. This insulin level is very high compared to a non-obese person. This increase in insulin creates changes in the body.
One of those changes is a thickening of the blood vessels, which increases their rigidity, which increases blood pressure. Because it takes more adrenalin to compensate for tasks done carrying extra weight, it taxes the cardiac system more. The harder the cardiac system works, the higher the blood pressure.
It causes a re-absorption of water and salt by the kidneys, which increases the blood volume and therefore increases blood pressure. The picture being painted here is simply a body that is overtaxed by excess weight and is compensating by trying to work harder, and that hard work is raising blood pressure.